Monkey Warfare (2006)

Director:

Reginald Harkema

Writer:

Reginald Harkema (writer)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Flower power is dead

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Molotov Cocktail | Lolita | Landlord | Garage Sale | Bra Less

Awards:

7 wins

Cast

Don McKellar	...	Dan
Tracy Wright	...	Linda
Nadia Litz	...	Susan
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marya Delver	...	Bike Girl
Jayne Eastwood	...	Garage Sale Lady
Caroline Gillis	...	Female Cop (as Caroline Gillies)
Patrick Harrison	...	Molotov Cocktail Safety Instructor (scenes deleted) (as Flick Harrison)
Isabel Knight	...	Baby Jason
Jason Knight	...	Husband
Sarah Manninen	...	Bike Girl
Erin McMurtry	...	Bike Girl
Earl Pastko	...	Ted
Brenda Robins	...	Figurine Lady (as Brenda Robbins)
Marnie Robinson	...	Bike Girl
Lee Rumohr	...	Young Couple
Rob Stefaniuk	...	Real Estate Agent
Melissa Veszi	...	Young Couple
Rachel Wilson	...	Bike Girl
Chaka Wolfe	...	Bike Cat
Cindy Wolfe	...	Rivers of Resistance Lady

Runtime:

Canada:75 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Parkdale, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

New Real Films

Trivia:

Nadia Litz was offered the part of Susan by Reginald Harkema at a music concert they were both attending.

High times on a low budget

I recently saw this at the 2007 Palm Springs International Film Festival and I don't know how it's possible to take a $30,000 budget and a two week film shoot and come up with a picture that's 10 times better than many costing 100 times the budget and 10 times the shoot time but Monkey Warfare is evidence that it is. Director/writer Reginald Harkema is obviously a talented filmmaker but he must also be a hypnotist to get this accomplish cast and crew to work for next to nothing. The film's title comes from a chapter in counter-culture Icon Abbie Hoffman's 1971 autobiography Steal This Book but the story of the film is about a couple who are eking out a living by hitting garage sales and dumpster diving but using their skills of discovery and knowledge of antiques to turn a profit by selling their items on the internet. They live an underground existence with a fixed rent and have a past to run from. They're relationship as boyfriend-girlfriend has become Platonic over the years but a younger girl who deals in top grade marijuana comes into their lives and a chain of events unfolds that will alter the lives of all three. Actor/writer.director/producer Don McKellar is Dan, actress Tracy Wright is Linda and actress Nadia Litz is Susan. All three have multi-credited careers. Harkema, who has come to directing through being an editor does not edit this film as Kathy Weinkauf is editor here. Jonathan cliff is the film's cinematographer. This is an imaginative film with lot's of character development, a good script and story and lot's of smart comedy. I would give this an 8.0 out of 10 and recommend it.