2009-2010

News Release

REF NO.: 0

SUBJECT: Grenfell: Grenfell community packs theatre for Crackie and Q&A

DATE: October 5, 2009

     Grenfell graduate Sherry White and fourth-year theatre student Meghan Greeley entertained questions from the house Saturday night after a screening of Ms. White's feature film Crackie.

     The film, which features Ms. Greeley as “Mitsy,” a 17-year-old girl who lives in a decrepit house in a small town in Newfoundland, was screened last month at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film was a favourite of international critics, and likewise, the audience that packed the Fine Arts theatre at Grenfell College were thrilled with the production, giving Ms. White and Ms. Greeley a standing ovation at its finish.

     The Grenfell community was given a special audience with the two women, while Dr. Ken Livingstone, head of Fine Arts, facilitated discussion.

     According to the film’s synopsis, Mitsy was raised by and lives with her grandmother. Bride, played by Mary Walsh, spends her days scrounging in the local dump and her nights entertaining men in her bedroom. Mitsy is accepted as a student at the local college, studying hair design. Her harsh-tongued grandmother is secretly proud of her. She wants Mitsy to elevate her life.
 
     She has no idea that Mitsy secretly plans to move to Alberta to live with her real mother, Gwennie, after graduating. Mitsy has a crush on smooth talking Duffy,, who convinces her to adopt his old ratty mutt (hence the title of the film). Mitsy hopes the pathetic dog is a quick answer to her lonely prayers. She looks for stability in her new responsibility as a dog owner. But when Gwennie shows up unexpectedly and stirs up trouble, Mitsy’s world starts to unravel. She must decide whether the woman who raised her is her enemy, or her strongest ally.

     Globe and Mail writer John Doyle described the film as “a small masterpiece of Canadian realism…gorgeously made, this hushed, intelligent movie has no sentimentality and marks the arrival of a major filmmaking talent.”

     Ms. Greeley’s talent was also featured in this month’s edition of Elle Magazine, which touts her as “one of Canada’s hottest new actresses.”

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