SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne calls Serville Poblete’s latest “equal parts gritty, honest, and beautiful.” in his Sunburn film review.
“Overall, Sunburn is equal parts gritty, honest, and beautiful. ” -Kevin Bourne
One thing that film fans have to look forward to every year at the Toronto International Film Festival is their selection of Canadian films, especially from the Toronto area. As one of the biggest and most important film festivals in the world, it’s a badge of honor that could elevate a Canadian filmmaker to the next level.
One of the local films which premiered at TIFF this year was Sunburn, the latest from Toronto filmmaker Serville Poblete, which also happened to win the Best Canadian Feature Film Award. Set in the St. James Town neighbourhood in downtown Toronto where Poblete grew up, Sunburn tells the story of a group of young people who take to the streets to pass the time during a heat-induced power outage. It’s centered mostly around Shay (Joshua Obra) and Vince (Dashawn Blackwood) as they talk about everything from girls to the future.
The film walks the fine line between being a Toronto film, with the slang, diversity, and rooftop views of the downtown skyline, while still being able to resonate beyond. That was by design with Poblete describing the film as “Lady Bird for the hood, but not distinctly Toronto” referring to the 2017 coming-of-age film from Greta Gurwig.
Films like these play an important role in changing narratives, bringing people together, and providing a window into how others live. After the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef, the narrative was that Canadians, even Black Canadians, were not like “them” despite knowing nothing about the Black or inner city experiences in Canada. This film proves that while there are some things that are unique to Toronto, inner city kids in Toronto are the same as inner city kids everywhere–they experience love, friendship, loss, and sometimes complicated family dynamics, all while dreaming of a better life. This is what makes a film like Sunburn a universal story that can touch audiences everywhere, similar to what Top Boy was for London.
While the whole cast held their own, Obra, Blackwood, and Arianna Shannon, who played Shay’s younger sister, delivered outstanding performances. Obra is the realist while Vince is the dreamer who aspires to a life beyond the hood. In the role, Blackwood delivers a lot of the comedic moments in the film balanced with moments of honest reflection. Obra and Blackwood bring a real, tangible love and emotional connection to the friendship that was beautiful, defying the stereotypes of young Black men.
The onscreen sibling dynamic between Obra and Shannon is also important to note. Their relationship was so real, I thought I’d check the credits and find they had the same last name. Everything from the insults and facial expressions they directed towards each other add to the realism of their relationship.
SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne walks St. James Town prior to watching Sunburn
Poblete told the audience at the final TIFF Q&A for the film that his set was a free and creative environment. He had no shot list and provided cast with a script, but allowed them to improv and make the script feel “lived in”, leading to a sense of realism in the performances and dialogue.
Overall, Sunburn is equal parts gritty, honest, and beautiful. It has beautiful, heartfelt moments which contrast with the resilience and grit of these downtown residents. It really is a film that Torontonians can be proud of, no matter where you live in the city. Gone are the days when Toronto only served as a stand-in for New York. It’s Toronto’s time to be front and centre.
If you’ve seen Poblete’s documentary King’s Court, also set in St. James Town with music from composer Aaron Paris, it’s a very similar story and aesthetic. As we said in our King’s Court review, with Sunburn, Poblete continues to show why he’s a filmmaker to be excited about in Toronto’s coming-of-age film industry.
Kevin Bourne is SHIFTER’s editor-in-chief and Senior Arts & Entertainment Reporter focusing on film & TV, music, and fashion. He was named one of 340 international voters for the Golden Globe Awards and a Tomatometer-Approved Critic by Rotten Tomatoes.
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