H is a 1990 Canadian film written, directed, and produced by Darrell Wasyk.

H
Film poster
Directed byDarrell Wasyk
Written byDarrell Wasyk
Produced byDarrell Wasyk
Stavrose C. Stavrides
StarringPascale Montpetit
Martin Neufeld
Ingrid Veninger
Bruce Beaton
CinematographyGerald Packer
Edited byTom McMurty
Music byRob Carroll
Distributed byAlliance Releasing (Canada)
Domino Film and Television International Ltd. (International)
Release date
  • December 1990 (1990-12)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish
Budget$25,000

Plot summary

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H is about two heroin addicts, Michele (Pascale Montpetit) and Snake (Martin Neufeld), who struggle to withdraw from the drug. They do it "cold turkey". Snake nails the apartment door shut: they are determined to come clean. Michele awakens to discover she has been "betrayed" by her lover and is trapped. Barricaded in their apartment, they become each other’s hostage. As the days go by, their resolve ebbs and flows as they dig deeper and deeper into themselves. The hook to heroin addiction is the false sense of immunity to the state at large but as withdrawal starts, this cocooned existence abruptly unravels. Reality sharpens, intensifies, and re-awakens. Sensations flare, as Michele and Snake scrape at the walls, the camera becomes a monitor, never once leaving the apartment. When almost totally withdrawn, Snake discovers a forgotten stash. They are faced with the ultimate question: "Do we really have control over our addictions?"

Cast

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Production

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The movie was shot in Toronto, Ontario on a meagre budget of only $25,000. There are only two principal characters in one location.

Festivals

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Awards

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At the 1990 Toronto International Film Festival, then called the Festival of Festivals, it won the Toronto-City Award for Best Canadian Feature Film,[1] and at Vancouver International Film Festival it won the Best Canadian Screenplay Award.[2] At the 1991 Locarno International Film Festival[3] the film won two prizes, the Leopardo di Bronzo, Terzo premio del Festival, and the 1st prize offered by the Department for Education, Culture & Sport. At the 12th Genie Awards Pascale Montpetit won a Best Actress for her portrayal of Michele. It was also nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.

References

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  1. ^ "Toronto International Film Festival Past Winners". Archived from the original on 2008-02-20.
  2. ^ "Vancouver International Film Festival Past Winners". Archived from the original on 2009-04-10. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
  3. ^ "Locarno International Film Festival".
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