Village life in a Mennonite community in Ontario, Canada, is turned upside down by the murder of an unknown woman. Walter, the local cop, has never had anything to do with a crime like this before. In unravelling the murder, many secrets of the now respectable and converted policeman are revealed. Walter’s tranquil life with his gentle girlfriend has not always been in such calm backwaters, this much becomes apparent. In chapters with biblical titles such as God meets us where we’re at, an intriguing and rather bizarre portrait is sketched of a rural community.
Small Town Murder Songs is not an ordinary police thriller or a classic whodunnit, but a character study; a story about striking family bonds and religious village busybodies. With a crazy score by Bruce Peninsula, who uses a rock choir behind key scenes in slow motion. An unusual and rather sombre glimpse of a Canadian subculture and the experience of a mysterious man.
Film details
- Country of production
- Canada
- Year
- 2010
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2011
- Length
- 75'
- Medium/Format
- HDcam
