Emotional Arithmetic (aka Autumn Hearts) (2008)

Although it was nominated for four Genie awards (kind of like Canada's Oscars), this film never received a theatrical release in the U.S., instead going the direct to DVD route. It's easy to see why. It's a rather obvious, ponderous talky affair with a faux Philip Glass score (written by Normand Corbeil). The film follows the reunion of three emotionally broken people (Susan Sarandon, Max Von Sydow, Gabriel Byrne) who survived a concentration camp in WWII. Add to the mix, Christopher Plummer as Sarandon's husband, Roy Dupuis as her son and Dakota Goyo as her grandson and you have a well intentioned if poorly written (it's based on a novel and I have no idea if the film's problems go back to the book) and so direly written and directed that the poor actors embarrass themselves with their laborious efforts. Only young Goyo comes across as natural.