Starring Tatiana Maslany, Spencer Van Wyck, Steven McCarthy
Directed by Kate Melville
Those who dont learn from history are doomed to repeat Grade 12.
Such is the fate of Claire (Tatiana Maslany), an 18-year-old Torontonian making only sporadic cameos during an encore year at her high school, mostly in the interest of antagonizing the administration. Her post-graduate year finally finds some purpose when she learns that Henry (Spencer Van Wyck), the socially awkward brainiac she once babysat, is now attending her school. When not mentoring Henry on how to conjure mystique disguise your introversion as emotional torment Claire hangs out with her 33-year-old paramour Jimmy (Steven McCarthy) and his bandmates.
An alumnus of the Degrassi: The Next Generation television series, writer-director Kate Melville has crafted well-drawn characters on the page and then elicited sophisticated tragicomic performances in front of the camera. McCarthy approaches Jimmys arrested development from intriguing angles. Meanwhile, Van Wyck capably demonstrates how a sensitive kids devotion can turn a crush into a crutch and unwittingly veer into extremely creepy territory.
That said, the film hinges on the breakout performance of Maslany, who shares Melvilles keen recollection that teenage rebellion often manifests itself with bemusement at any expression of concern and the belittlement of every available target. Arming herself with indifference, Claire capably deflects any criticism but also proves bewildered when her attempts to shock only garner sympathy.
Melvilles experience with televisions rigid structure and time constraints grant Picture Day a fluidity and focus that are uncommon in début features. And while theres a certain predictability to the plots trajectory, each scene has the capacity to surprise you with its wit and insight.
