The starting point of “The Greatest Country in the World” is alluring: Canada is about to elect a right-wing party, the PPS. They are planning to pass a law that closes the borders to foreigners. There is an increase of accepted racism (sounds familiar to anyone?). Hiên, owner of a convenience store who immigrated from Vietnam to Canada in the 1970s, encourages his daughter, 30-something Phuong, to immigrate to his motherland. She listens to her dad and leaves everything behind (including her long-time boyfriend Alex) behind. The plan for the father is to settle everything in the Northern American country, and to re-make his life in East Asia.
The Greatest Country in the “World” is screening at Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
In the middle of his hesitations, prognostications and grief of the country he has been living in for over 30 years, comes Alex. The latter is looking after Junior, whose mom said she would leave for a week and come back to look after her son. She didn't. And now the duo is looking after the pre-teen while investigating in a chilling (not just because it's cold) environment.
The feature sometimes falls in the trap of wanting to be serious, meaningful and showing how deep characters and dialogues are, by allowing a lot of silences that seem uncalled for, hence a bit unnatural. The combination of it with a slow pace can give a bit of heaviness to the movie.
Nonetheless, “The Greatest Country in the World” has also a lot of positive points: an interesting plot, the camera, as well as cinematic codes, are understood and mastered. The cinematography is great, the acting is on point, there is a bit of humor.
All main characters are well-developed and complex. Alex is externally very knowledgeable and aware of things, but he's also immature. His incredulity/denial in the face of rising extremism is quite touching and relatable. The ex-girlfriend/daughter could have been the evil queen because she left for a better life and career, but she is not represented as awful (as I am writing these lines, I am sadly realizing how much I integrated that, on screen, sacrificing women are ‘good' and career-driven woman who leave men behind are ‘bad'). Finally, the dad, who is the focus of the film, has an interesting back story. His identity crisis and sense of belonging are really at the heart of the movie.
“The Greatest Country in the World” is presenting an interesting plot and engaging characters. If it is sometimes a bit heavy, but nonetheless enjoyable.
