Re-Generation and Wisely Hedging Your Bets: A Movie Review

*full disclosure: a DVD screener of this film was provided by Indican Pictures.

Director: Anais Granofsky.

Writers: Anais Granofsky and Ingrid Veninger.

Regeneration was completed in 2004 as The Limb Salesman. Starring Peter Stebbings (Defendor), this film was retitled and released on DVD in 2010. Re-released in February, 2011 through Indican Pictures with additional scenes, Regeneration has had less than a smooth ride to reach viewers. This is a small indie film, which was partially funded by Telefilm Canada and Regeneration will reach a number of viewers by being so diverse in genres. There is a western vibe here, with much drama and sci-fi making an appearance through the inclusion of an "eco-catastrophe" (Indican). However, at the heart of the film beats a romance between central characters Dr. Goode (Stebbings) and Clara (Ingrid Veninger).

The future is a bleak place, where miners are forced underground to find deposits of clean water. Here, a baron rules the land, while his daughter suffers the loss of her legs, through pollution. Enter the upright Dr. Goode to offer his surgical services, which involve DNA replicated limbs and you have yourself a story with sci-fi origins. However, the music, decor, and costumes all signal that this is a mid-Victorian (1825-1865) era set piece. The two competing genres create a great deal of interest, as Goode repairs Clara's damaged limbs.

The local miners are not happy. Dying far below and starved of water, there are revolts occurring off camera. This is a simple film, with only a few characters and more genres begin to appear later in the film. There is tension between a son, who manages the miners, and the father, who uses them as an expendable resource. Clara falls for Dr. Goode and soon, romance and drama begin to show themselves. This use of multiple genres ensures that Regeneration will be met by a positive response from a large audience. Yet, the film never seems to focus on one theme, which lightens the impact of the film.

Miners are now running a revolution on the surface, Clara's new legs are showing infection and father fights son for the moral right. Now is the time to escape this mess and this is what both Clara and Dr. Goode do. On the run briefly, this romantic duo must face the limits of their mortality, as the diverse set of genres finish the film with an unexpected flair. There is only one way for lovers to become one, right? Well, Granofsky would say that there are more ways to join together, as one final genre emerges, tragedy. Nothing says reality more strongly than when events go wrong. Just like life, Regeneration's plotline does not go as planned and viewers will likely be enthralled by the final few moments, as was this reviewer.

Recently released on DVD, Granofsky's latest feature is a must see, for fans of something slower and more balanced. Covering the bases of drama, romance, sci-fi, western and tragedy, there is a little something here for most film lovers. Simply put, Regeneration is well acted, interesting and a softer look at a global economic meltdown and a possible worldwide apocalypse. As a bonus, the film is not a dismal look at the future and instead, the movie is slightly uplifting.

Writing/story/plot: 7 (well drawn characters, tragic and enough of a character arc to keep most watching till the end).
Acting/believability/interpretation of material: 8 (Stebbings is a suitable lead, the chemistry between the two mains was a little hard to believe, solid performances).

Overall: 7.5 out of 8 (a great film for most audiences).

*filmed in Guelph, Ontario.

Regeneration can be purchased at Indican Pictures:

Regeneration at Indican Pictures

Or at Amazon:



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Posted in: 2011,apocalypse,family,indican pictures,movie review,sci-fi,thicker than water