A waste of 90 minutes of my life

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

This is a perfect Canadian family-in-crisis movie even if a 13 yr.old androgynous boy takes most of the attention. None of these characters knows where they are going and flip-flop along in irritable desperation until son and Mum break the mold and seek some freedom. In the interval a great witty screenplay involves us fully with editing from heaven which keeps the action running along. And the cinematographer is certainly no slouch with snow and pines shown as if painted by the Group of Seven. We expect good performance from the better known actors here but Aaron Webber in his first movie role interlocks the other characters in an insightful and low keyed performance.I only had a problem with the too neat ending which seems to overreach for dramatic incident and then comes up with a couple of overworked clichés which seem out of place in this thoughtful and revelatory drama.

Very enjoyable film. The chemistry cultivated between the lead actor and his teacher and parents is impressive. The film opts for cleverness over cuteness; which sets it apart from most of the rest of the films I've seen in the "coming of age" genre. Challenging subject matter and a fresh approach to sexuality and growing up. Easily one the most entertaining Canadian films I've seen. It's a shame that it only played for one night at the film festival, I would have gathered as many friends as I could find to watch it a second time. I will keep an eye out for the DVD.Thank you to Amnon Buchbinder for coming to the Q & A as well.

This is a touching movie about Emerson, the 13-year-old son of hippies in rural Nova Scotia. He's been home-schooled; hoping to interest him more in academics, his mother decides to send him to the local school for the first time. As he becomes the target of bullies, more and more he develops a crush on his English teacher, Mr. Grant, who as it turns out is a closeted gay man who frequents the highway rest stop. His artless advances towards Mr. Grant scare the hell out of him, leaving Emerson hurt and confused. Meanwhile, his parents' marriage is in a crisis that they try unsuccessfully to camouflage from him.There were a few thin spots (a few threads were left hanging ), but in general it's a sweet, reflective movie that compels us to identify with Emerson and invites us to think about the emotional reactions it raises in us. Another lovely Canadian (and specifically Maritime) queer film in the tradition of The Hanging Garden.

Amnon Buchbinder's "Whole New Thing" ranks among the best independent films of the past year. Solid performances, notably from newcomer Aaron Webber, and assured, mature direction bolster an excellent script (co-written by ubiquitous Canuck playwright and co-star Daniel MacIvor) about the vagaries of family, love and sexuality. Buchbinder's sensitive treatment of his characters never falls into cliché and consistently offers resonant insights. The script is well-paced and adroitly mixes comedy and tragedy to present a well-rounded view of humanity in bittersweet glory.For those of you who thought Canadian cinema was just about Atom Egoyan and David Cronenberg, think again: Amnon Buchbinder is as strong and defined a voice as either of those two, and his soft touch arguably eclipses both in terms of his ability to explore the humanity of his characters.