FILM REVIEW Memento by David Ridgen Released 1996 Genre Experimental Narrative Cast Mark Ruzylo Scott Withers Suzanne Hersh Mark Cassidy Russ Waller Lara Koretsky Marg Hitchcock Country of origin Canada Language English Format 16mm, Super 8, 8mm Duration 74 min., Other Reviews Kingston This WeekMemento.htmlBio.htmlMemento_Kingston_This_Week.htmlshapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1shapeimage_1_link_2
Ghosts fail to spook film’s debut Meline Nadeau, Kingston Whig Standard June 24, 1996 Features/Entertainment Anything that could possibly go wrong went wrong. And yet, ghosts, technical problems and a near accident did not stop Memento, David Ridgen's debut film, from being a success. It was shown aboard the Island Queen Riverboat on the weekend during a soiree that brought friends, family and crew together for an unforgettable first look at the production. Ridgen and his crew were plagued by all sorts of mishaps, strange illnesses and goings-on during the making of the feature. At the time, many a crew member believed the ghosts of the old footage they restored were manifesting their presence. It was only fitting they manifest themselves one more time. Viewing areas were set up on the boat's bottom and middle decks but problems with sound sent everyone to the lower deck. Once the viewing began, it was smooth sailing until the boat almost capsized. The vessel was cut off, sailed through the other boat's wake and tipped to one side. Ghosts or not, it was a lot of excitement for one night. The films's episodic nature and use of old footage certainly gives it an eerie quality worthy of the spirits' attention. However, the fragmented storyline does make it more difficult to follow and draw the line between memory and reality. Ridgen and his crew have taken old memories belonging to someone else and recycled them into new ones. Rebecca's (Marg Hitchcock) soft nostalgic voice is touching and believable as she narrates and recalls her childhood. By comparison, John (Mark Ruzylo) is a disconcerting character. A discontented and overworked filmmaker, he is captivated by some of the footage he has found in Rebecca's trash. While he relentlessly seeks out the truth, sidekick Richard (Scott Withers) follows him, determined to document the making of his film. John and Richard's relationship is reminiscent of that of siblings, John being the older of the two and constantly annoyed by Richard. Richard admires John and his view of the filmmaker's actions gives insight into the filming of Memento and adds to the storyline. His footage includes some of the events that happened to Ridgen's crew during the making of the film and acts as a reality check. Most of the shots were completed in one take. This gives the film a candidness which is refreshing but is also unpolished. But in light of the film's extremely low budget of $8,000, the end result is a tour-de-force and filmmaking genius. "It has a life to itself," says Ruzylo. "To preserve things from 1952 is an incredible feat. Film does eventually die and when you lose those images, something else dies with them." Dare to brave the ghosts and see Memento for yourself. It will be shown on August 12, 1996 at the Princess Court Cinema in Kingston.

“...a tour-de-force and filmmaking genius.”

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