Metro Cinema Society: The Hamster Cage

The Hamster Cage

Canada 2005, 92 min, 35mm, Dir: Larry Kent

In 1963, Larry Kent wrote and directed Canada's first independent feature film, The Bitter Ash, a tale of a young man torn between hedonism and responsibility which was banned in various Canadian cities for its frank sexuality. Kent followed it with a series of features (Sweet Substitute, High) which continued his exploration of the socio-cultural revolutions of the day, and continued to be widely censored. Largely ignored by the film establishment of the day, Kent's films have enjoyed a critical re-assessment across Canada, and Kent has been recognized as the one of the forefathers of independent film in Canada. The Hamster Cage is a return to form for Kent; it tells the story of a family reunion gone horribly wrong, including murder, infidelity, sexagenarian oral sex, and revelations of child abuse. Paul has just won the Nobel prize for physics and his family has gathered to celebrate. His brother's fiancée Candy (Carly Pope) gives him a blowjob, because she's attracted to intelligence. Meanwhile, Stanley, Paul's brother, corners his niece in the bathroom to rationalize - not apologize - for abusing her as a child. She snaps and kills him with a toilet plunger. With subject matter like that, it's clearly a comedy. The filmmakers are proud to note that the film was banned at the Shanghai Film Festival.

NOTE: There will not be a screening on Tues, Oct 24. This screening is listed in our program, but it will not be happening on that date. Our apologies for any confusion.