Director: Lindsay MacKay
Actors: Julia Sarah Stone, Kenneth Welsh, Leah Pinsent, Craig Arnold, Diana Leblanc
Writer: Lindsay MacKay
Country: Canada
Runtime: 95 min
Rating: PG
Every year, four young Canadian actors are selected to be a part of the TIFF Rising Stars program. These talented individuals are not only given an exciting and respected spotlight, but they also have the opportunity to attend valuable industry meetings and to work with international casting directors, filmmakers, and producers. This year, sixteen-year-old actress Julia Sarah Stone of the film Wet Bum (2014) was selected as one of the 2014 Rising Stars. This work also features a debut feature film director, Canadian Lindsay MacKay, further sparking my interest and prompting me to attend what turned out to be a charming Canadian gem.
Wet Bum introduces audiences to Sam (Stone), a highly self-conscious fourteen-year-old girl who is taunted by the fellow students in her lifeguarding class due to her slow physical maturation. Forced to work in a retirement home by her mother, Sam makes friends with two unlikely individuals: Judith (Diana Leblanc), a sweet and silent lady who enjoys watching Sam, and Ed (Kenneth Welsh), a grumpy and private man who continually attempts to leave the home and hitch a ride to an undisclosed location. As Sam learns a little about these individuals, she also learns a lot about herself, and begins to take the first steps towards self-acceptance.
After viewing her performance, there can be no doubt as to why Stone was one of the individuals selected as a TIFF Rising Star. Young Sam acts and sounds exactly like a real kid that we all know, and it is easy for an audience to empathize with her adolescent struggles. In 2011, Stone won the award for Best Performance in an International Feature at the LA Young Artist Awards, and has since made a name for herself taking on emotionally challenging roles. The character of Sam may be quiet and reserved, but there is a life inside of her that only a talented actress such as Stone would be able to bring to the surface.
The setting of this film oscillates between the retirement home where Sam works and the pool where she takes swimming lessons. Underwater shots reveal the space where Sam is most comfortable and able to feel the freest; while she often appears awkward and uncomfortable out of the water, a confident exuberance is revealed within it. Director MacKay is observant yet always highly respectful of her protagonist, treating her with a gentle sensitivity that reveals her slower development without ever compromising her actress’s dignity.
Wet Bum tells a story of adolescent self-consciousness, and the sorts of people that can help one to overcome it. The film addresses themes such as life, death, youth, and old age, and charms easily with its distinctive Canadian style and heart. The film may be slow and meditative, but genuine and relatable characters render it enjoyable. In addition, actress Stone presents an authentic performance, proving why she won her title and distinguishing herself as a Canadian up-and-comer to watch.
