World premiere

The G

Local title
G
Director
Karl R. Hearne
Country
Canada
Year
2023
Festival
27th Black Nights Film Festival
Programme
Official Selection - Competition
Genre
drama, crime film, thriller
Subject
interpersonal relationships, familial relationships, individual vs society, absurd

Former alcoholic Ann Hunter, or G, played by the great Dale Dickey (“Winter’s Bone”, “Breaking Bad”), has turned her life around and together with her husband moved to an unnamed American suburb to be closer to family. One day, they suddenly find out that their home and everything they own have been targeted by corrupt officials who work with elderly care facilities. Their home is expropriated, and the couple is moved to a prison-like retirement home with similar unfortunates. G realizes that the only way out of this hell on earth is to show her claws with the help of her loyal grandchild.

Inspired by Director Karl R. Hearne’s grandmother's character and story, “The G” could be classified as a “winter noir”, where a snowy and bleak atmosphere supports the somewhat dark narrative. The undisputed star of the film is Dale Dickey who seems to almost play herself. Her previous hardships are clearly carved on her face, but she refuses to accept the often ubiquitous notion that the elderly are excluded from society, or marginalized people fading away. Let's face it, the kind of performances that Dickey delivers here can rarely be seen on the screen.

”The G” is an original gripping thriller, which can also be interpreted as black humour against everything that is happening in our sick society today.

Helmut Jänes

Director
Karl R. Hearne
Screenwriter
Karl R. Hearne
Cast
Dale Dickey, Romane Denis, Roc Lafortune, Bruce Ramsay, Jonathan Koensgen
DoP
Vlad Horodinca
Editor
Arthur Tarnowski
Composer
Philippe Brault
Production
3Buck Productions
Runtime
Language
English
Subtitles
Estonian
Director
Karl R. Hearne

Karl R. Hearne was raised in Ireland and Québec where he studied at McGill before earning a graduate diploma from the University of Nanjing, China. His films have premiered at TIFF, SXSW, and New Directors/New Films. His arthouse ghost story “Touched” was nominated for Best First Feature at the 2019 Canadian Screen Awards. “The G” is his second feature.

Filmography:
Touched (2019), The G (2023)

Grand Prix for The Best Film, grant of 20 000 euros from the city of Tallinn, Award for Best Director, grant of 5000€ from Alexela

Screenings

Chill-Hall Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
Screening090102 / G
SubtitlesEstonian
Q&A guestsKarl Raudsepp-Hearne (Director), Romane Denis (Cast), Dale Dickey (Cast)
Q&A duration
Screening duration
Hall Athena Center, Tartu
Screening104103 / G
SubtitlesEstonian
Screening duration
Chill-Hall Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
Screening170102 / G
SubtitlesEstonian
Screening duration
Trailer
PÖFF TV - Meet the Filmmakers