A well-received Canadian debut feature by Andrew Cividino, Sleeping Giant explores the subject of teen boys wrestling with the concept of masculinity. During a lazy hot summer on Lake Superior, Adam (Jackson Martin), Riley (Reece Moffett), and Nate (Nick Serino)—all cousins meeting for the first time—hang around, not doing much of anything besides egging houses, taking chances, and wrestling one another for dominance. Inevitably, the differences between the boys become issues in their three-way relationship. The quiet, sensitive Adam is out of sync with the more aggressive Nate (a genuine juvenile delinquent), while Riley falls somewhere between in personality. As tensions escalate (Nate especially has a chip on his shoulder), conflict spills over into Adam's and Riley's families, leading to a crisis that puts two of the boys in terrible danger. Cividino excels at lean storytelling, instantly establishing who these kids are without hammering viewers with background and context. Sleeping Giant exhibits an urgency that contrasts intriguingly with the sunny, laidback setting. Recommended. (T. Keogh)
Sleeping Giant
Altered Innocence, 91 min., not rated, DVD: $21.99, Blu-ray: $24.99 Volume 33, Issue 2
Sleeping Giant
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