HIGH COST OF LIVING

Canada, 2010, 92 minutes, Colour.
Zach Braff, Isabelle Blais, Patrick Labbe, Julian Lo.
Directed by Deborah Chow.

The High Cost of Living was written by Deborah Chow, Chinese-Canadian?, who also directed the film ended dedicated it to her doctor father.
The film creates a very difficult situation, but one which could easily happen. Zach Braff (Scrubs, Garden State, The Last Kiss), is a New York drug dealer living in Montreal. He has a mixed clientele, some of whom are quite dependent on him. He tries to have some ethical standards in terms of the availability and use-by dates for the drugs. In a momentary error, he turns into a wrong street and knocks down a pregnant woman. He moves on, though ringing the hospital for an ambulance.
The audience has been introduced to Nathalie, Isabelle Blais, tense, with a busy husband, fearing early contractions, waiting for a taxi to go to hospital.
Nathalie suffers a concussion, loses the child, still-born. However, the hospital delays the surgery until she is better. In the meantime, Henry gets a young Chinese-Canadian? friend, Julian Lo, to find out the truth of what happened. Henry follows Nathalie, save her from some harassment, and tries to do the right thing, taking her home and looking after her. While this salves his conscience somewhat, he is attracted to Nathalie and she becomes dependent on him, staying away from her husband.
Ultimately, of course, the truth comes out. Henry had tried to tell her the truth but lost the opportunity and so when she discovers what happened and why, she is deeply hurt and cannot forgive him.
There is a moving final moment between the two and Henry’s decision to ring the police.
Most audiences will be interested in the character portrayal as well as the interactions in a desperate situation which could occur accidentally at any time.

1. A moving film? Emotions? Principles? Empathy with the characters? A credible and difficult situation?
2. The Montreal settings, the city, the ordinariness, apartments and hospitals, restaurants, an illegal drug world? The medical world? Police and detection?
3. The introduction to Henry, Zach Braff’s performance? From New York, his reason for being in Canada, documents? Seeing him in action? Buying the drugs? Distributing them? His interactions with his customers? The desperate woman? The retailer? The men? His finding the drugs, his scruple about use-by dates? Driving, unthinking, taking the wrong turn, hitting Nathalie? His fear, not stopping, the phone call to the hospital?
4. Nathalie, the tension with Michel? His being busy, going to work, loving but self-preoccupied? Nathalie, the contractions, her fear, the phone call and checking out the issue with her friend? Deciding to go to the hospital, the taxi, on the street, her being hit by Henry? Taken to hospital, her concussion, the bruises, the child stillborn? Her numbness, her grief? Michel’s presence, grief, lack of empathy, her reaction? The issue of removing the stillborn child?
5. Henry, reading the papers, trying to find out what happened? Going to Johnny and asking him to inquire? Johnny, his age, his parents, wanting some drugs, taking the money, going on the street, handing out leaflets, the encounter with Nathalie? Giving Henry the information? Johnny’s parents grounding him?
6. Henry taking the flowers to the house, the encounter with Michelle? Meeting Nathalie? Her troubles and his coming to her rescue? The couple in the bar, criticising Nathalie and her drinking? Henry taking her for a drink, discussions, her explanations?
7. Henry taking her home, his consideration, talking, her going in confidence, the room and setting her up, the bath, the clothes? The meals? Her gratitude? His not telling the truth? Playing hopscotch and drinking? Going out, buying the hats? His encounter with a customer? Sending Nathalie home? Her later telling him that she realised he was a drug dealer? The girl coming to the door, the information about the friend in hospital?
8. Nathalie away from home, Michel’s concern, the issue of the surgery? Her not being able to face it?
9. The police, Nathalie and the photos, identifying Johnny? The police and taking him away? His parents concern? Getting Henry to help with the search?
10. Henry and the growing love for Nathalie? Her appreciation? His reading Proust to her? The breakfast, her telling him of her decision about the surgery? His attempt to tell her the truth?
11. At last, discovery of the truth? Henry and his promise to be with her at the surgery?
12. The meeting with Nathalie, her disbelief, listening to his explanation, saying that he wants to feel better and that’s why he helped her? His agreeing with her but his explanation of a deeper feeling? Her inability to forgive him? The embrace?
13. Henry and his driving away, his decision to return, the meeting with Nathalie, her recovery in hospital?
14. The final meeting, Nathalie not letting off, the final moment and his calling the police?
15. The audience realising always that somebody should tell the truth, no matter how difficult, but knowing that it was hard? The ultimate effect on the victim, especially after the kindness, to realise the truth and to be expected to forgive? Would Henry go to prison? Would Nathalie come to terms with what did happen to her, the falling out of love with Michel, the experience of losing the child, the experience with Henry?