Modra

U.S. Premiere

Ontario director Ingrid Veninger redefines bravery in filmmaking, casting her restless 17-year-old daughter as the romantically adventurous but inexperienced Lina in this refreshingly honest story of two teenagers who barely know each other hooking up on a European travel adventure of self-discovery.

Before she leaves for university, Toronto native Lina plans to visit her extended family in Modra, Slovakia. Having just been dumped by her boyfriend, she invites Leco as a somewhat reluctant traveling companion as the pair, having little in common, traverse the tentative territory of teen-age desire in this story set amid the sunny vineyards of her musical old country relatives. Slovakian-born Veninger, director of a celebrated indie feature, Only, was named one of Canada’s “10 Directors to Watch” this year as she makes her shift from maverick producer to solo feature debut. (First-time actor Alexander Gammal as the vulnerable Leco won “Best Canadian Actor” award at Vancouver Film Fest, 2010.)

Print Source: Punk Films, Christopher Oldfield, oldfield@canadafilm.com