THE ANIMAL PROJECT written and directed by Ingrid Veninger, with Aaron Poole, Joey Klein, Jacob Switzer and Hannah Cheesman. A Mongrel Media release. 90 minutes. Opens Friday (June 6). For venues and times, see Movies. Rating: NNNN
The Animal Project feels like a transitional project for director Ingrid Veninger – and I mean that in a good way. The reigning queen of lo-fi Canadian cinema has upped her game without abandoning any of her characteristic whimsy.
Her tale of an acting teacher (Aaron Poole) who dresses his students in animal costumes and sends them out into Toronto to jump around and hug people has a narrative structure with solid story beats rather than the gentle drift of Only, Modra and i am a good person/i am a bad person. It also further distinguishes itself with a more formal visual style than she’s attempted before.
Veninger’s still doing what she does best: finding moving moments of emotional connection between awkward, confused people. It’s just that this time one of them’s wearing a squirrel suit.