Down Here

As someone who lived in Vancouver for a long time, and have so many deep and fond memories of it, it was so great to finally see a film that treated Vancouver as an intricate tapestry as opposed to just a backdrop. The filmmakers got some amazing shots in, such as the scene where the two cops are standing on an old bridge with The Lions in the background. But everything Vancouver was shot thoughtfully and - despite the somber subject matter - lovingly, from the alleyways to the streets to my favourite: The panoramas of the Downtown Eastside at night.

I also thought that, for the most part, the acting and the script were excellent, and I liked the subplot of the relationship between the detective and the Native woman and the boy she was caring for. That story she told the detective about finding someone to love more than you hate yourself made me weep.

What I didn't like about the film was the showing of snuff scenes. At least I think that was going on....after I caught one second too many of the first of those, I averted my eyes from thereon in when the one or two more scenes of a poor young woman suffering then dying began, then I fast forwarded to the next scene. Not for me.