Guitar Lessons

Ray, portrayed by Corb Lund, is a middle-age working class man who is financially successful, but has serious alienation issues; no family, and not much going on in his life. He is approached by Leland (Kaden Noskiye), a homeless teenager whose sole posession is an old guitar, and he pleads with Ray to teach him to play it. Ray doesn't really want to do it; he was a serious guitarist in his earlier life, and he's alienated from that, too. (In real life, Lund is a Outlaw Country singer-songwriter; he's good enough to have gotten a Juno award and a long list of Canadian Country Music Association awards, but hasn't had commercial success at anywhere near the Garth Brooks level.) From that point on, we are taken through several mysteries about Leland and his guitar, which I am not going to spoil here.

One of the highlights is the performance of Conway Kootenay, who plays Ray, who self-identifies as part-Meti and part-Cree. He speaks the Cree language, and uses that to humourous advantage. Ray actually revels in his second-class citizen status, but he has a gambling addiction, which is addressed later in the film.

It was filmed in High Level, Alberta, a town of 4,000 people in the Peace River Country. Several local people had roles in the film. This film provides insights into Alberta culture rarely seen in the media.

I don't watch movies often, as I find that there are very few releases that are thoughtful and relevant enough to warrant my time. Earlier this year, when I heard that a movie was being filmed in the very area/towns in which I grew up, I was intrigued and put it on my "must watch" list.

This film did not disappoint. It is not only quirky and funny, but truly heartwarming, and really, honestly, *stunning*. The storyline of Guitar Lessons weaves a tapestry of several characters working through their personal demons. A wonderful movie that breaks barriers of age, race, language and socioeconomic status, putting us all on a level field. It speaks to the fact that we are all interconnected and have something we can learn from oneanother. One very moving scene in the film imparts a lesson that facing our pain head on is where the healing begins.

The cinematography in this movie is stunning, nuanced and truly showcases the raw beauty that is Northern Alberta. It also accurately depicts and juxtaposes the harsh reality of poverty in some rural communities with the joy and humour that can still be found within the roughness of life. Having lived in this area, I can attest to the accuracy of the portrayals.

Overall, what I love most about the film is that it is real; it is raw; it is uniquely "us." In a world full of hurt, we don't need more fancy, more fake, or more fluff. We need stories like these to bring us home; home to what really matters.

This is a slow moving but sweet and funny film that makes a virtue of its limitations. The budget was clearly small, but the director makes great use of the unknown cast and the stunning scenery of northern Alberta. Conway Kootenay is a standout and steals every scene he is in. The plot may be cliched, but the clever script and stylized direction make it feel fresh. I loved the indigenous characters and the glimpses into their culture added a lot to the story. While there is some drama, it never gets too heavy, and the resolution to the various plot lines is very satisfying. This would be a great date movie.

This gem of a Canadian movie is so powerful and beautiful. It's slower pace reminds me of Harrison Ford's "Witness" where we too have to slow down from our frenetic pace of life. We are lulled into the plot with stellar performances and excellent humor that pokes fun at all kinds of stereotypes. I especially laughed and resonated with the woke white woman swooning at the Cree speaker in the diner scene. But the movie's real power is how it deftly reveals the deep pain of each character with simple words and gentle scenes. The pain of being human and struggling to deal with other humans, the pain of understanding our own struggles, the pain of lost dreams and lost opportunities. As in real life, there are no simple answers served up on a plate, solved by magic cloaks or marvelous technology, but it still offers hope and insight to the human condition and how we can strive to be more gentle with ourselves and each other. I recognized myself and my neighbors in this careful character study. Well done!

I was kind of expecting a very low budget looking movie with a not so great story line as with the previews that I saw were all hilarious without revealing too much of the storyline. What I got when I sat in the theatre was the exact opposite!! I was excited to see if they revealed all of the comedy in the previews, but they did not! I loved this movie from start to finish! I laughed & I literally cried in the theatre at moments. The storyline was fantastic, the actors were great and the overall visuals were waaay better than what I thought they would be! MUST SEE MOVIE!!! I would love to know if there is going to be a second part or if that's it?