Review of Magic Hour: Lost in the Barrens

Poor Jamie (Nicholas Shields). First, he lost his parents to an auto accident. At the time, he was a student at an exclusive school in Toronto and he was able to stay because of his folk' trust fund. Now, alas, the money is gone, just as Jamie is near finishing school and is a star on sports' teams. Therefore, it is a shock when he is told he must leave the establishment and go live with his mother's brother in the wilderness of Manitoba! Talk about a lifestyle change! When the train pulls near his uncle's home, he and another lad, an Indian teen, is dropped off at the same time. This young man, it is assumed, has also been told to leave the school. After a long wait, Uncle Angus picks up Jamie and takes him back to his small, rustic cabin on Lake Winnepeg. There is no school, stores or anything resembling civilization nearby. After a rough beginning, Jamie accepts these changes. Yet, the bookish teen is very reluctant to join a hunting party to find fresh meat, which Angus' insists on. Even before the hunt begins, Jamie accidentally shoots his uncle in the behind, making it impossible for the older man to go. Jamie must go with the strange Indian teen and his father. Things get worse when the boys, egged on by Jamie, go off on their own and end up lost in the "barrens", a place where there are no trees or places of shelter. True, the Indian lad knows a few tricks of survival but will the boys make it home? This is quite a fine family movie, with excellent themes and settings. It has a nice groups of actors, including Grahame Greene, who perform very well. The Canadian interior looks sensational, even the barren lands, and the flick's obvious appreciation of Native American ways is very clear. It also offers fine lessons in learning to get along and understand those who are different from ourselves. Thus, find Lost! Your loved ones will discover its exciting story is just wonderful!