Trigger
Genre: Drama
Director: Bruce McDonald
Stars: Molly Parker, Tracy Wright
****
Toronto’s Bruce McDonald knows how to bottle the lightning of rock ‘n’ roll, as he’s often proved in movies like Roadkill and Highway 61.
So it’s no shocker that Trigger is steeped with the wisdom of bruised eardrums and egos, ravaged constitutions and moments where truth bypasses the brain and heads straight for the soul. What may amaze, however, is how perfectly Molly Parker and the late, great Tracy Wright dial into this same vibe.
Their achievement is all the more impressive, knowing the difficulties faced in making the film: A nine-day shoot with scant preparation and a clock ticking for Wright, who succumbed to pancreatic cancer last summer.
As fractious members of the fictional pop duo Trigger, who attempt to reunite after a bitter decade apart, Parker and Wright distill the essence of rock rivalry and regret.
The film’s low budget and scant prep time are apparent. But rock is about getting the feeling right, not getting the notes played exactly. And in this Trigger excels, making Wright’s final film a tribute to her talents.
