WITH LOVE AND A MAJOR ORGAN
Starring: Anna Maguire, Hamza Haq, Veena Sood, Donna Benedicto, and Arghavan Jenati
Director: Kim Albright
PRESTON
With Love and a Major Organ is a mostly original, dark comedy sci-fi film whose social commentary is something we can all relate to in some way. I will admit, while liking the story overall and agreeing on the dangerous direction our society is heading, I felt a depressive annoyance with the subtle finger-wagging message of embracing artsy carpe diem mindsets and villainizing practicality (but that may just speak to my own traumas). Despite my overly personal digression, this film smartly demonstrates a quirky romanticism that doesn’t stray too far from an ideal whose espousal is one that I really appreciate.
NICK
There are some parallels between this film and last year's Fingernails, as both are tales of a futuristic way to live, with an eye on finding love and happiness. The main difference is this Anna Maguire-led feature does a much better job telling that story. Although the film doesn’t shy away from difficult questions, it poses them while maintaining a pure sense of optimism that brings a welcome sense of hope with it. This is a well-acted film that should make you chuckle, smile, and restore faith in your ability to overcome obstacles. Depending on your mood, this may be just what the doctor ordered.
PAIGE
With Love and a Major Organ is a visually striking and distinctive film, but ultimately, it's a boring and uninteresting watch. I had to fight to finish the entire movie because I was losing interest in it so quickly. The characters are clearly unlikable, and the script lacks any sense of urgency or motive to make the audience care about them. Plus, it’s all too obvious and without any depth. All in all, it's a tale that might work fine on paper, but struggles to translate to the big screen.
This film was reviewed by Nick, Paige, and Preston as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2024 Canadian Film Fest.