Suze (Michaela Watkins) is a single divorcee living with her self centred and spoilt daughter Brooke (Sara Waisglass) in Hamilton, Ontario. Nothing is going Suze’s way. Just as Brooke is off to start McGill University in Montreal her goofy boyfriend Gabe attempts suicide and his father then dumps Gabe on Suze to watch as he is off on a contract “up North” and selfishly fails to even give Suze a date for his return. Suze is dumped on yet again. She is stepped on and manipulated by a world that cares solely about themselves. Despite the sporadic moments of humour you most likely will empathize with Suze and perhaps venture so far as to pity her.
The comedy is not ribald but self depreciating and at times with precise targeting of boomers and millennials. The “cuddle party” scene is a gem. Matters head downhill for Suze until she explosively stands up for herself and her ideals to the surprise of her manipulators. I can imagine the audience breathes a sigh of relief for Suze. Finally Suze finds both herself and happiness. What was surely unlikely at the beginning of the film comes to pass. Suze has found the light and scampers toward it to begin healing from a very bad hand of cards. Loneliness, a central theme of the film, is handled with care. Maturity surfaces for Brooke, Gabe and Suze late in the film.
And that Vesuvian emotional eruption by Suze feels so good you won’t stand up and cheer as such behaviours are only in the minds of film critics of the 1950’s and 1960’s but you feel vindicated.
Watkins has an impressive resume. This will be one of her notable performances.
The film could have veered toward sappiness but being a Canadian movie that is impossible…well not really! Canadian grit shines here and makes the film worth an enjoyable watch. The acting throughout is solid.
You can watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cgc_te4qGM
“Suze” is directed by Linsey Stewart and Diane Clark.
Currently playing in Canadian theatres.
RKS 2024 Film Rating 86/100.
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