Twist

Twist is a calm, lucid retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic Oliver Twist, transferred to a contemporary setting and from the poorhouse onto the street. The pickpockets have gone -here the young men sell their own bodies. Also gone are the orphans and the helpless victims from the 19th century: instead of that we are confronted with the orphaned remains of problem families. The story is told by Dodge, in other words the Artful Dodger (played by Nick Stahl), who at one stage had a home in an outer suburb of Montreal, but is now a misanthropic veteran on the indifferent streets of Toronto. When he meets the young Oliver, he takes pity on him and guides him in the world of male prostitution. Dodge and the other kids form a tight family, less traditional, but certainly more honest than Oliver’s last home with its destroyed illusions. Even drug dealer Nancy, the girlfriend of overlord Bill Sykes, who keeps the boys motivated, is warmer towards him than he is used to. As Oliver’s innocence breaks down, Dodge becomes increasingly distracted by a demon from his own past, his brother David. Twist is a powerful début by Jacob Tierney (only 23 years old), who provides a self assured portrayal of this story about the cruelty of life. The fine and subtle roles are probably the result of Tierney’s lengthy experiences as an actor.