Prodigals

Prodigals is a gripping 2017 drama directed by Michelle Ouellet. Based on a play by Sean Minogue, the screenplay is an adaptation co-written by Minogue and Nicholas Carella. The movie stars David Alpay, Sara Canning, and Kaniehtiio Horn, among others. Set against the backdrop of an insular small town, the film invites viewers into the world of its troubled, complex characters, exploring themes of redemption, self-discovery, and the tension between the allure of greener pastures and the familiarity of home.

The story follows Wesley (David Alpay), a law school dropout who returns to his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada, from the bustling city of Toronto, where he worked as a bartender. He comes back to help his old friend, Benny (Andrew Francis), who is in serious legal trouble. Benny, haunted by charges of first-degree murder, is determined to cash in on an old favor, catalyzing Wesley's journey back to the town he left behind in pursuit of greater opportunities.

Despite having no formal background or qualifications in law, Wesley, driven by a misguided sense of loyalty and a desperate need to validate his move to the big city, offers to assist Benny in his legal predicament. Standing in as a makeshift 'legal counsel,' he is armed with nothing more than ample law jargon and the limited knowledge he managed to absorb before dropping out of law school.

Sara Canning portrays Jen, Wesley’s former girlfriend who stayed back when he decided to leave Sault Ste. Marie. The tensions from their shared history, coupled with Jen's declaration of potentially relocating, add additional layers of depth to Wesley's convoluted emotional state.

Kaniehtiio Horn plays the role of Nina, an outsider like Wesley, trapped in their hometown due to her personal circumstances. Her character provides a fresh perspective and acts as a mirror to the group's dynamic and the town's overall feel, presenting a contrasting image to their ingrained understanding of home.

Prodigals is about the grappling urgency of reinvention; it's a richly detailed portrait of a man struggling with his identity and the notion of success, all the while dealing with abandonment issues and a simmering sense of guilt for deserting his friends and the city he once called home. David Alpay’s portrayal of Wesley captures the essence of a disillusioned young man aiming to rewrite his mistakes, stuck in a constant push and pull between his past and future.

Set in northern Ontario, the cinematography by Celiana Cardenas captures the contrasting serenity and foreboding tone the town manifests, aptly representing Wesley's conflicting emotions. The film’s palette is graced by bleak winterscapes that further emphasize the underlying sense of doom, melancholy, and stasis.

Sara Canning and Kaniehtiio Horn offer strong performances, ensuring that the women in the story are not reduced to mere romantic interests or props, but stand as individuals with their own stories, complexities, and dilemmas. Andrew Francis in his role as Benny presents a compelling performance, adding significant weightage to the film's emotional stakes.

The film's powerful exploration of personal identity, trauma, and redemption is further bolstered by Chris Ainscough's haunting soundtrack, which shadows the intense atmosphere throughout the movie.

Overall, Prodigals is a poignant and affecting drama, intimately capturing the lives of individuals caught in the paradoxical struggle between clinging onto the past and breaking away towards uncertainty. It pushes the boundaries of its genre conventions, delivering a different take on legal dramas while also questioning the concept of home, memory, and the cost of loyalty.

In summary, Prodigals is not just a drama or a crime trial film, but it explores deeper social and emotional aspects of human nature. It's a story about homecoming, a hard look at the places and people that shape us, and the drawn-out process of accepting personal failures while navigating the responsibility of overcoming them. So if you are a fan of multi-genre dramas, Prodigals should be on your watch list for its nuanced characters and compelling narrative.