Plot

Van's father, Stan (Hemblen), is fond of video, always taping scenes of daily family life. But he does not take care of Van's grandmother, Armen (Keklikian). Although he could afford having her at home, she is spending her days watching TV in an old people's home

Retirement home

A retirement home is a multi-residence housing facility intended for senior citizens. Typically each person or couple in the home has an apartment-style room or suite of rooms. Additional facilities are provided within the building, including facilities for meals, gathering, recreation, and some...

. Van often visits her. He meets Aline (Khanjian), whose mother is in the next bed. Van wants to get his grandmother out of the old people's home. Aline will help Van, whose mother left years ago and is looking for a real family life.

Recognition

• 1987
  • Toronto International Film Festival
    Toronto International Film Festival
    The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
    
     Best Canadian Feature Film - Won
• 1988
  • Genie Award for Best Achievement in Direction
    Genie Award for Best Achievement in Direction
    The Genie Award for Best Achievement in Direction is awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to the best Canadian film director.-1st Genie Awards:*Bob Clark, Murder by Decree*Peter Carter, Klondike Fever...
    
     - Atom Egoyan - Nominated
  • Genie Award for Best Achievement in Editing
    Genie Award for Best Achievement in Editing
    The Genie Award for Best Achievement in Editing is awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to the best Canadian film editor.-1st Genie Awards:* Stan Cole, Murder By Decree* Jean Beaudin, Cordelia* Ron Wisman, Fish Hawk...
    
     - Atom Egoyan,Bruce MacDonald - Nominated
  • Genie Award for Best Motion Picture
    Genie Award for Best Motion Picture
    The Genie Award for Best Motion Picture is awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to the best Canadian motion picture.-1st Genie Awards:*The Changeling *Cordélia...
    
     - Atom Egoyan - Nominated
  • Genie Award for Best Music Score - Mychael Danna - Nominated
  • Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
    Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
    The Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role is awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to the best Canadian actor.-1st Genie Awards:* Christopher Plummer, Murder by Decree...
    
     - David Hemblen
    David Hemblen
    David Hemblen is an English-born actor who frequently works in Canadian film, television and theater. He was a mainstay on the television series Earth: Final Conflict, playing Jonathan Doors, and played recurring roles in A Nero Wolfe Mystery and La Femme Nikita . He voiced Magneto on the popular...
    
     - Nominated
  • Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
    Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
    The Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role is awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to the best supporting Canadian actor.-1st Genie Awards:* Gordon Pinsent, Jack London's Klondike Fever...
    
     - Hrant Alianak - Nominated
  • Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
    Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
    The Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role is awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to the best Canadian actress.-1st Genie Awards:* Kate Lynch, Meatballs* Louise Portal, Cordélia...
    
     - Gabrielle Rose - Nominated
  • Genie Award for Best Original Screenplay - Atom Egoyan - Nominated