Review by Cameron Maitland

One of the most hotly anticipated films at this year’s film festival has to be the sophomore effort from the writing/directing team of Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden, Sugar. After their film Half Nelson managed to climb from an indie to the Oscars, there couldn’t be more of a spotlight on this seemingly out-of-leftfield drama about baseball.

Unlike most American baseball films, Sugar tells the story of a young Dominican player just beginning his career by entering the minor leagues in Iowa. This film is as much concerned with baseball as it is with the socio-economic truths of the game’s international presence and the effect they have has on the player. Much of the film focuses on Miguel “Sugar” Santos’ ability to cope with being thrust into a country where he doesn’t understand the language or the culture and the sadness and humour that brings.

Like Half Nelson, the strength of Sugar lies in its performances. Algenis Perez Soto’s portrayal of the titular character and his progression through America is both emotionally sound and shocking in its realism. Fleck and Boden say they started with the end of the film in writing and worked their way backwards but the forward momentum and slow progression of Soto’s character make the film smooth and seemless in its execution.

Unexpected and moving, Sugar is a film that can be enjoyed both by baseball fans and people who are simply interested in a human story about progressing towards your dreams.

Sugar
Ryan Fleck & Anna Boden | USA | 2008 | 114min

Fri. Sept. 26 | 9:00pm | Empire Granville Theatre 4
Sun. Sept. 28 | 1:30pm | Empire Granville Theatre 2
Thur. Sept. 30 | 10:00am | Empire Granville Theatre 7