[6]

A high school student (Devon Bostick) causes a community uproar after conspiring with his teacher to present a fictitious report identifying his deceased father as a terrorist. Writer/director Atom Egoyan (The Sweet Hereafter, Exotica) is playing with religious and racial tolerance in light of 9/11 with Adoration. The film comes off a bit too much like forced social commentary, but the acting is decent and Egoyan’s story structure is remarkable. The script is non-linear, allowing the mystery of the boy’s family and his teacher’s private agenda to drive the movie forward. The film is best when it focuses on its characters and their direct experiences, and loses something when it tries to forcibly transpose itself over national headlines (usually through clunky scenes depicting internet video-chat arguments). The third act pushes most of the public debate aside, revealing secrets in the boy’s real life story, which involves interracial parents, a bigoted grandfather, and a bitter uncle. Arsinée Khanjian is odd but beguiling as the boy’s teacher and Scott Speedman puts in a good performance as the beleaguered uncle. With Rachel Blanchard and Noam Jenkins.