Acts of Imagination

Though well made and exquisitely acted, Acts of Imagination never quite becomes the searing drama one would imagine it’s supposed to be – something that’s due primarily to the aimlessness of Michael Springate’s screenplay. The story revolves around Jaroslaw (Billy Marchenski) and Katya (Stephanie Hayes), Ukrainian immigrants (and siblings) who each having their own problems finding their place within Canadian society. Katya, in particular, seems to be suffering from some kind of a mental illness and believes that their mother died under suspicious circumstances. Director Carolyn Combs infuses Acts of Imagination with a jittery sensibility that reflects the tone of Springate’s screenplay, while the film’s dialogue generally walks a fine line between authenticity and staginess – with the natural, unforced performances often ensuring that the film remains grounded in reality. But the real problem here is that neither of these two characters are terribly compelling or even likeable, and as such, there’s not a whole lot within Acts of Imagination to hold the viewer’s interest.

** out of ****