FLAWED TALE HAS PASSION
The closing-night film at the recent Canadian Film Fest in Toronto, Across the Line tells an important story — imperfectly, but with great passion and commitment nonetheless.
Meet Mattie Slaughter, a Halifax high-schooler hoping to make it big in the NHL. The first time we see him is on the ice, covered head to toe in hockey gear. When that mask comes off, tell me you weren’t expecting a white face.
Racial perceptions are front and centre (and forward, left and right, in the crease and out), in Floyd Kane’s script. Mattie’s nemesis at school is Todd (Denis Theriault), who can’t open his mouth without making an offensive remark about blacks. Mattie is also tutoring (and flirting with), Jayme (Sarah Jeffery), a mixed-race girl whose boyfriend is Todd’s best friend.
There is a real history of racial friction in Nova Scotia, which includes high-school race riots and, six years ago, a cross-burning. Across the Line doesn’t dramatize a specific episode, but it’s inspired by true events.
The story doesn’t shy away from the topic, but it also doesn’t stray from it, to the detriment of the film’s depth and realism. There isn’t a moment that isn’t focused on racism: classroom lessons devolve into discussions of slavery, school romances are viewed solely through the lens of race, and everyone has something to say about stereotypical black behaviour, music, etc.
Toronto actor Stephan James (Jesse Owens in Race), excels as Mattie, quietly driven to pursue his goal. Director X (Julien Christian Lutz), a longtime creator of music videos, makes the transition to feature filmmaking look easy. And he sure knows how to film a fight scene, whether it’s one-on-one, two-on-one or a classroom-clearing donnybrook.
Across the Line not only showcases some fine black actors, it delves into a topic Hollywood struggles with. It’s a pity it takes place in Canada, but also a point of pride that it was made here.