Raf

Raf (Grace Glowicki) is facing eviction from her shabby basement apartment in Vancouver's unlivable housing market. A landscaper by day and high school janitor by night, Raf is contently sleepwalking through life — consumed with boring relationships, friends who don't respect her, and bosses who take advantage of her unwillingness to assert herself. That is, until she meets Tal (Jesse Stanley), a rich, loud, and empowered young woman who quickly befriends Raf and makes enough of an impression to change everything. As Tal's interest grows, she begins to influence Raf's decisions, while also giving Raf the confidence to make some herself.

Writer-director Harry Cepka's debut feature is eccentric and pleasantly unique. It's infused with the pulsating excitement that comes when you connect with someone new, and with the cynicism and absurdity of realizing things have gone awry. It's also an emotionally intelligent exploration of how class factors into the development of contemporary relationships.

Raf is a true two-hander. Newcomer Stanley is terrific in a breakout role, and Glowicki is electric as Raf, recalling the bizarre comic energy of Gilda Radner and the wild expressionism and delicate absurdity of Jim Carrey. Raf is a bold film with a fresh style from an intriguing new voice.

RAVI SRINIVASAN