C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005)

Starring: Michel Cote, Marc-Andre Grondin, Danielle Proulx
Director: Jean-Marc Vallee
Running Time: 125 mins
Certificate: 15
Release Date: August 21st, 2006

C.R.A.Z.Y. follows the first 20 years of young French Canadian Zac’s life, who was Born on Christmas Day 1960. Always striving to please his father, Gervais, this becomes more difficult when his sexuality comes into question. As Zac struggles through his teenage years, will he and his family ever come to understand each other?

What’s the point of Quebec? After all, this is the place that gave us Celine Dion, so it’s got a lot to answer for. However, while not traditionally thought of for its film industry, it came to international attention in 2003 when Les Invasions Babares won the Best Foreign Film Oscar, and now C.R.A.Z.Y. also got a fair amount of attention when it was released in 2005.

Although the film at first seems like it’s going to be a typical coming out story with a few quirks, C.R.A.Z.Y. is actually far more interesting than that. While it can be ridiculously coy about Zac’s sexuality, the film uses it and Zac’s confusion over who he is as a way to tell a story about a family and how a father and son try to relate. It’s nice that it doesn’t go in for easy answers either.

This is a film where even though the druggie son that Gervais allows back into his house has overdosed, he still says he can’t accept it if his son is gay. Perhaps most impressively is that while it’s easy to disagree with Gervais, he isn’t a monster. All set to a truly rocking 60s and 70s soundtrack (the rights to which apparently ate up most of the budget), C.R.A.Z.Y. is a richly textured and immensely energetic film that isn’t afraid to admit how complicated families can be.

Overall Verdict: A fascinating look at the difficulties of families and growing up a little but different.

Reviewer: Tim Isaac