By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)
Streaming Online
at the Victoria Film Festival
Get your pass here to view beginning Feb 5th, 2021
Note: Available to view for residents in British Columbia
If Leonardo DiCaprio can stand at the bow of a ship and proclaim he’s the King of the World, then so can Bhreagh MacNeil climb the highest mountain and announce she’s Queen of the Andes. Technically, a plant bearing this name exists in Peru and its lifecycle is unique. It doesn’t flower until they are about 80 – 100 years old.
MacNeil plays a bright scientist, Pillar, who has ideas on how to help society at home. She’s even proposed a means to end world hunger, and a few people are ready to take notice. The performance from this actress is strong. She’s questioning why she was selected to take part in Canada’s quest to get into Space. She feels she can do more at home, on planet Earth, with her discovery and to decide on which career to take part in is tough.
This future ‘what if’ scenario is more about civil rights—to which it succeeds in exploring—than complete science fiction. The privately funded Space Program seen in this film is not all that rosy. However, its borderline tones of conspiracy made this watch to the end a must.
Continue reading “VFFOnline 2021: Reaching for the Stars, Not Mars in Queen of the Andes”