Emerson Thorsen (Aaron Webber), 13, lives with his parents Kaya (Rebecca Jenkin and Rog in their eco-home
in the wilds of Nova Scotia. He's just had his first wet dream, and completed
writing and illustrating his first book, all 1000 pages of it. Meanwhile, the
homeschooled youth can barely add 2 + 2. His mother enrolls him in the local
school. There, Emerson's English teacher is Don Waltz. At 42, the solitary Don
has settled into a life of perpetual adolescence, paying regular visits to a park
washroom for anonymous sex. In the classroom, Emerson stirs things up.
Surprisingly, Don sees a bit of himself reflected in Emerson. Emerson, initially
scornful of his teacher, quickly develops his first crush -- on Don. The
precociously confident boy, raised in a household of casual nudity and sexual
openness, throws himself into this awakening of his heart with dangerous
abandon. This is going to be a
Whole New Thing. For everyone.
Canadian Connection: A Canadian production filmed in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia with a Canadian cast and crew.
Great light comedy - well directed.
5 stars. Excellent exploration of a sensitive topic while maintaining what should be the proper relationship between teacher and student.