By Alan Samuel
Thoughtful and provoking is Across the Line. Prepare to be sad and sorry for the youngsters depicted in this wise portrait from Red Eye Media. Hopeful lessons will be learned by all those who take in this drama at Landmark Cinemas New Westminster, Surrey Guildford and Esplanade in North Vancouver.
Vancouver, by many, is considered to be one of the most “tolerant” cities – allegedly welcoming all citizens of the world with open arms. Too bad the same can’t be said about a small community of North Preston in Nova Scotia. Said to be based on real events Across the Line looks at a group of teens in a multicultural area who just don’t seem to get along.
Almost immediately you can tell this film is Canadian with its emphasis on our national pastime: hockey. Close-mindedness appears in abundance at a Nova Scotia school thanks to some toughs on both sides of the racial landscape having a total dislike of each other – all based on race. So when a star black hockey prospect falls in with the wrong crowd at school through no fault of his own a series of unsavoury moments develop,
Encounters on and off the ice as well as petty romantic jealousies among tens mushroom into an explosive confrontation pitting white against black and further alienating an already suspicious rather hateful general adult community.
Strong performance from Sarah Jeffery amongst Many more help make Across the Line compelling entertainment on a dead serious contemporary and highly emotional social debate.
