Is À Vancouver Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2016)

The Narrative Arc & Core Premise

À Vancouver, a standout production of 2016, meticulously weaves its narrative threads through the Modern Cinema landscape, offering a cinematic experience that is as challenging as it is rewarding. The primary thematic concern of the film is an investigation into À Vancouver is an experimental video essay featuring interviews with my father about our familial and individual sexual histories. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a world where the traditional boundaries of Modern Cinema are tested.

The screenplay takes its time to establish the stakes, ensuring that every character motivation is grounded in a psychological reality. The synopsis only hints at the depth: "À Vancouver is an experimental video essay featuring interviews with my father about our familial and individual sexual histories. Blending documentary and fiction, the video examines and expands upon parallel events in our lives, wherein we each traveled across Canada to Vancouver, and had formative (homo)sexual experiences at separate moments in time: my father as an 18-year-old traveling in the mid-60s and myself as a young teen and then adult in the mid-90s and 2000s. À Vancouver stages these narratives in the genre of the father-son road trip exploring themes of queer temporality, memory, and linguistic, cultural, and sexual inheritance."

Artistic Execution & Performance Study

A film's resonance is often dictated by the strength of its execution, both in front of and behind the camera. Despite the inherent talent of David C. Jones, the performance in À Vancouver feels somewhat constrained by a narrative framework that doesn't fully exploit their range. There are flashes of brilliance, but the overall impact is muted.

The direction by Vincent Chevalier is marked by a steady and professional hand. From a production standpoint, the film meets the high standards of modern industrial filmmaking. The sets are well-crafted, and the visual effects are integrated with a level of polish that ensures the viewer matches the director's intended level of immersion. While perhaps not groundbreaking, the execution is flawless. The pacing, over its 35 minute runtime, allows the audience to fully inhabit the space the director has created, making the eventual resolution feel deeply earned.

Critical Assessment: Why You Should Watch

Is À Vancouver truly worth your investment of time and attention? In an era of disposable content, this film makes a strong case for its existence. If you are a connoisseur of Modern Cinema, then this is a worthwhile watch if you have a specific interest in the themes or the performers involved.

The film's ability to perfectly execute its genre requirements is why it has earned its 0/10 score. It speaks to a global audience while maintaining a distinct and unique voice, a balance that is notoriously difficult to achieve in the modern marketplace.

Philosophical Subtext & Directorial Vision

At a deeper level, À Vancouver explores the dichotomy of truth and perception. The 2016 audience is increasingly sophisticated, and Vincent Chevalier respects this by refusing to provide easy answers to the story's complex questions.

The philosophical underpinnings of the second and third acts suggest a narrative that is interested in more than just entertainment. It is an exploration of what it means to be human in an increasingly complex world.

Final Editorial Recommendation

Ultimately, À Vancouver is an interesting experiment that, while flawed, offers enough moments of creative spark to be worth a casual glance for the curious. Whether you are drawn to it by the star power of David C. Jones or the critical acclaim surrounding its release, À Vancouver is a film that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible.