Curtis's Charm
| Curtis's Charm | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | John L'Ecuyer | 
| Written by | John L'Ecuyer | 
| Based on | "Curtis's Charm" by Jim Carroll  | 
| Produced by | 
  | 
| Starring | 
  | 
| Cinematography | Harald Bachmann | 
| Edited by | Craig Webster | 
| Music by | Mark Korven | 
Production company  | Rabid Dog Films  | 
Release date  | 
  | 
Running time  | 74 minutes | 
| Country | Canada | 
| Language | English | 
Curtis's Charm is a 1995 Canadian comedy-drama film written and directed by John L'Ecuyer in his directorial debut. The film won a special jury citation for Best Canadian Feature Film at the 1995 Toronto International Film Festival.[1]
Based on a short story by Jim Carroll, the film stars Maurice Dean Wint as Curtis, a paranoid drug addict who believes his mother-in-law has cast a voodoo spell on him, which has resulted in his being stalked by a killer squirrel.[2] With the help of his friend Jim (Callum Keith Rennie), he tries to devise a talisman to protect him from the curse.
Cast
- Maurice Dean Wint as Curtis
 - Callum Keith Rennie as Jim
 - Rachael Crawford as Cookie
 - Barbara Barnes-Hopkins as Voodoo Ma
 - Aron Tager as Park Worker
 - Hugh Dillon as Spitting White Trash Thug
 
Production
Filming began in April 1995, and took place over five weeks. It was shot on black and white 16 mm film.[3]
Release
Curtis's Charm premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 1995,[4] where it won a special jury citation for Best Canadian Feature Film.[5]
Accolades
The film garnered two Genie Award nominations at the 17th Genie Awards in 1996:[6]
- Best Adapted Screenplay: L'Ecuyer (nominated)
 - Best Original Score: Mark Korven (won)[7]
 
References
- ^ "Film fest names winners". Edmonton Journal, September 18, 1995.
 - ^ "The romance of junkie paranoia". The Globe and Mail, September 14, 1995.
 - ^ Playback Staff (September 11, 1995). "Special Report: Toronto International Film Festival: Curtis's Charm". Playback. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
 - ^ Leydon, Jim (September 25, 1995). "Curtis's Charm". Variety. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
 - ^ "Film fest names winners". Edmonton Journal, September 18, 1995.
 - ^ "Nominees for the 17th-annual Genie Awards". The Gazette, October 17, 1996.
 - ^ "1996 Genie Award winners". Toronto Star, December 1, 1996.