Martin Garo's Young People

The Peak
Young People the last of the sexy films
By Nick Pannu

Young People Fucking opened in theatres on Friday, June 13.

**Interview** with Director Martin Garo and Cast Aaron Abram & Kristin Booth

Martin Garo, writer and director of the recently released film Young People Fucking, says his film is a perfect example of the type of films that will have no chance of receiving funding and ultimately cease to reach the production stage if Bill C-10 is passed in Canadian law.

Bill C-10 is an amendment to the Income Tax Act that is currently under review by the Canadian federal Senate. If Bill C-10 is passed, Ottawa’s Heritage Ministry will be granted the right to deny funding for Canadian films in the form of tax credits if the film’s content is identified as “questionable.” Some people say that Bill C-10 threatens to undermine a promising domestic Canadian film industry that already faces many challenges, especially those of finances.

Garo argues that while Young People Fucking does have an objectionable title, the film still manages to enlighten and serve a wide demographic, which is something that would be entirely overlooked if Bill C-10 is enacted. Moreover, Garo says that Bill C-10 goes against common sense and that anyone can see that it is poor legislation. If the bill is read thoroughly, Garo says, “people will see all the things that are wrong with the bill — creatively and business-wise.”

Young People Fucking is a unique and authentic film if you consider its originality, candidness, and good acting. Even for those offended by the content, the brilliant script will still engage and often surprise the audience through its witty and comedic scenes. The responsibility for this ingenious script lies solely in the hands of two people: Martin Garo and Aaron Abram. Abram, who also acted in the film, communicated with Garo via the internet over the time span of one year to write the script.

Garo admitted that there was an advantage to keeping the writing exclusive to two people rather than a group of writers. Garo said it was more the sense of humour and dialogue that he shared with Abram that allowed the creative process to occur naturally, as well as to be gratifying. Being frank though, Abram admits “when you’re writing about sex, things come together easily because it’s an easy subject — it’s all about conflict and a universal subject that everyone can relate to”

The film thoroughly examines the various dynamics of sex in the context of different relationships, played out during the course of one night. There is the foreplay between roommates, ex-partners, grade school friends, a first date, and a married couple. The opening scene starts with friends being quite candid and blunt on how sex is necessary. Carly Pope, who plays opposite to Aaron Abram in this scene, coaxes Abram to have sex with her in a very straightforward and profane manner regardless of the fact that they are not romantically involved.

The scene immediately foreshadows the nature of the content in the rest of the film. A lot happens, actually a lot of unexpected things respectively with each couple. As these bizarre things happen the viewer can’t help but mentally create their own barometer for which scene is most or least unusual and strange. The dialogue is contemporary with minimal cheesy lines; the audience is treated to implied themes that conclude each segment for the different couples.

As well written as the script is, it would not have taken life if not for the talented cast. Actors delivered the script marvelously, managing to stay focused in suggestive scenes that often included nudity. Actress Kristin Booth seemed to have a very challenging role considering the foreplay she had to deliver in her final scene. On remaining focused and not cringing, Booth explained that in the scene, “You become that character, you are that character . . . [you are] living the character, not looking from an outside perspective. [I] don’t think about certain circumstances, don’t cringe in very suggestive scenes because at that moment . . . I am that character as truthfully and as honestly as I can be.”

Both Abram and Booth added that characters also evolve substantially through takes and feedback from scene partners. Aaron Abram did co-write the script, but he was adamant that “you need input from other people. It helps to have new ideas, to keep the character fresh.” Also, Abram confesses that he would have no choice but to improvise, considering the curve balls that two time Leo award-winning actress Carly Pope is known for throwing.

As has been demonstrated by this and other Canadian films, the Canadian film industry has unlimited potential to develop further and thrive. Bill C-10 will further burden Canadian filmmakers that already deal with financial pressures, and perhaps discourage some from ever taking the initiative to make film. Filmmaker Martin Garo makes a good point when he says that the virtue of democracy is giving people the right to see what they want to see, and choose not to buy a ticket for film that offends them.