TIFF Day 2: Kristen Wiig in Hateship Loveship

Day 2 started off with a small independent film made by Liza Johnson, called Hateship Loveship. The film is adapted from a short story, "Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage" by Canada's own superstar writer Alice Munroe and stars Kristen Wiig in the lead role as Johanna, a quiet loner who works as a live in caregiver. 

The first scene of the movie shows Johanna caring for a sick elderly woman, who immediately passes away, meaning Johanna must find a new job. Her pastor sets her up with a gig looking after a teenage girl Sabitha (played by the young girl from the Coen brother's True Grit, Hailee Steinfeld) who lives with her grandfather Mr. McCaully (the husky voiced Nick Nolte) because her father Ken (number one hunk Guy Pearce) is an addict and all round disaster (and also responsible for her mother's death in DUI accident).

Sabitha and her best friend do what teenage girls do best--be bitches--and hatch a mean-spirited plan to write love letters/emails to Johanna from Ken, all for their own amusement. The plan gets out of hand-culminating with Johanna leaving the McCaully residence to go and live with Ken in Chicago at his run down motel, thinking that they will start their life together. Johanna shows up, and of course Ken knows nothing about what she's talking about or why she's there. The story goes on from there...

When introducing the film, director Johnson called Wiig her creative and life muse-a very kind thing to say. But you can see why Johnson has such kind words for Wiig-not only does this film prove her acting chops, she is also so so lovely in person. It really is astonishing how well most comedians/comedic actors do at drama. Unfortunately I don't think it works the other way. 

At the Q and A afterwards, there was a mic/sound problem and Wiig ran on stage holding 4 remote microphones for Johnson-it was so funny and cute. She also spoke about how she would love the opportunity to act in more dramatic roles. After her performance in this film, I don't think she'll have a problem getting work. Unfortunately, Guy Pearce wasn't there, as he is filming in Australia. When Johnston announced that fact, the crowd groaned. Pearce is really good in the movie too-and the chemistry him and Wiig have together is sweet, uncomfortable, and almost excruciating at times. It works though, and I didn't mind seeing him play a down and out shitbag guy trying to get his life together (it helps that in most of the movie he is only in his boxershorts!) 

The film itself is quiet and slow moving, but very dignified and definitely worthwhile. It has a happy ending (which at times, you aren't sure is going to happen) and it's a feel good experience!