| Down to the Dirt | |
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| Directed by | Justin Simms |
| Written by | Joel Hynes Justin Simms Sherry White |
| Starring | Hugh Dillon Robert Joy Mary Lewis |
| Distributed by | Mongrel Media |
| Release date(s) | October 2008 |
| Running time | 115-116 min |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Down to the Dirt is a 2006 film based upon Newfoundland author Joel Hynes' first novel of the same name. The movie has been shot largely in Newfoundland. The film won two awards at the Atlantic Film Festival, one for the best feature film and other for the best screenplay.
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Keith Kavanagh is a rowdy hooligan known for his hard drinking throughout the Southern shore. He also has a shattered relationship with his father. But when he meets Natasha (Mylène Savoie), his life changes. Both fall in love. But soon Natasha leaves Keith, fed up of his ways. Later Keith realizes that he himself is responsible for all his failures in life and thus embarks on a mission to find Natasha, where he not only finds her, but also himself and realizes he needs to make a change for the better.
Mongrel Media provided Canadian distribution for the film.[1] Running time is 115–116 minutes.[1][2] The public debut was at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2008.[3]
Toronto Star film critic Patricia Hluchy panned the film (), noting it attempted "few too many narrative strands and characters" and also critical of its length, though crediting its "raw energy".[4] Sun Media's Liz Braun had a more favourable assessment () describing the production as "uneven" yet possessing "a strange appeal, like some kind of Newfie version of a Charles Bukowski story".[5] Film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes lists the feature at a 50% approval level on its tomatometer with an average 5.4/10 rating.[6]
Film classification boards in Ontario and Quebec issued content advisories regarding the production's strong language and violence.[1][2]
Down to the Dirt received two awards at the Atlantic Film Festival.