Down to the Dirt

Down to the Dirt
Film poster
Directed by	Justin Simms
Written by	Joel Hynes Justin Simms Sherry White
Starring	Hugh Dillon Robert Joy Mary Lewis
Distributed by	Mongrel Media
Release date(s)	October 2008
Running time	115-116 min
Country	Canada
Language	English

Down to the Dirt is a 2006 film based upon Newfoundland author Joel Hynes' first novel of the same name. The movie has been shot largely in Newfoundland. The film won two awards at the Atlantic Film Festival, one for the best feature film and other for the best screenplay.

Plot

Keith Kavanagh is a rowdy hooligan known for his hard drinking throughout the Southern shore. He also has a shattered relationship with his father. But when he meets Natasha (Mylène Savoie), his life changes. Both fall in love. But soon Natasha leaves Keith, fed up of his ways. Later Keith realizes that he himself is responsible for all his failures in life and thus embarks on a mission to find Natasha, where he not only finds her, but also himself and realizes he needs to make a change for the better.

Release

Mongrel Media provided Canadian distribution for the film.^[1] Running time is 115–116 minutes.^[1][2] The public debut was at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2008.^[3]

Reception

Toronto Star film critic Patricia Hluchy panned the film (), noting it attempted "few too many narrative strands and characters" and also critical of its length, though crediting its "raw energy".^[4] Sun Media's Liz Braun had a more favourable assessment () describing the production as "uneven" yet possessing "a strange appeal, like some kind of Newfie version of a Charles Bukowski story".^[5] Film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes lists the feature at a 50% approval level on its tomatometer with an average 5.4/10 rating.^[6]

Film classification boards in Ontario and Quebec issued content advisories regarding the production's strong language and violence.^[1][2]

Awards

Down to the Dirt received two awards at the Atlantic Film Festival.

• Justin Simms won the Atlantic Canadian Award for the best feature film
• Justin Simms and Sherry White won the Atlantic Canadian Award for the best original screenplay.^[7]

Sources

• Down to the Dirt.com
• Down to the Dirt at the Internet Movie Database

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Down to the Dirt". Ontario Film Review Board. 20 August 2008. http://www.ofrb.gov.on.ca/ofrb/OfrbWelcomeAction.do?searchSequence=2000076376&showDetail=true. Retrieved 2010-02-04.  14A rating - coarse language, sexual content, violence.
2. ^ ^{a b} "Down to the Dirt" (in French). Régie du cinéma (Quebec). 11 March 2009. http://www.rcq.gouv.qc.ca/RCQ212AfficherFicheTech.asp?intNoFilm=327066. Retrieved 2010-02-04.  13+ rating - vulgar language (langage vulgaire), violence.
3. ^ "World Premiere of Down To The Dirt at TIFF ‘08". Down to the Dirt. 31 August 2008. http://downtothedirt.com/down-to-the-dirt-premiere-at-tiff-08/61/. Retrieved 2010-02-04. 
4. ^ Hluchy, Patricia (5 December 2008). "Down to the Dirt: Raw energy not enough". The Star (Toronto). http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/548741. Retrieved 2010-02-04. 
5. ^ Braun, Liz (5 December 2008). "'Down To The Dirt' is eh OK". Jam!/Canoe. http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Reviews/D/Down_To_The_Dirt/2008/12/05/7643466-sun.html. Retrieved 2010-02-04. 
6. ^ "Down to the Dirt". Rotten Tomatoes. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/down_to_the_dirt/. Retrieved 2010-02-04. 
7. ^ "Atlantic Film Festival". IMD. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1069226/awards. Retrieved 2009-08-06.