WFG RATING: A

A production of the OnOff Company. Written and directed by Michel Kandinsky. Produced by Rick Bartram, Michel Kandinsky, and Dev Singh. Editing by Rick Bartram.

Stars François Arnaud and Lothaire Bluteau.

A former military officer returns home and tries to start his life over in this riveting drama from Michel Kandinsky. 

Once an elite sniper, a young man has finished his military service and returns home to a small town in Canada. Stricken with post traumatic stress disorder, he begins to recollect his time in Afghanistan. Returning home, he tries to find out what happened to his father. As he tries to figure things out, his PTSD begins to act as a trigger to his mind. The lines of reality and his past begins to cloud his mind. Will his past demons prevent him from starting his life over?

From the title of the film, one would think this would be an action thriller, especially one set in a military fashion. However, what writer-director Michel Kandinsky did was something completely different. Yes, there are a few action sequences in the film. However, the focus of the film is the titular protagonist returning home to start his life over but stricken with PTSD, which begins to slowly take its effect on him. 

François Arnaud gives a riveting performance as the titular character (who has no name and is credited as “Sniper”). From the moment he makes his trek home, you can see how much his time in the military has affected him. As a sniper, he would spend days away from the rigors of humanity waiting for the target. So it comes to no surprise that when he comes across an avid hockey fan on the bus home, he doesn’t have much of a reaction. 

With little interactions between the Sniper and folks in his hometown, one can see how much his military life slowly begins to consume him. Especially as he tries to find out what happened to his father, he begins to find himself resisting violent urges as a means to confront those knowing anything about his father. While Arnaud at times seems stoic, his body language and expression shows how much emotion beyond the surface he can bring to the table. 

Canadian, Sniper is a fascinating character study of a PTSD-stricken ex-military officer who yearns to start his life over. François Arnaud’s performance is nothing short of amazing. 

The film is currently playing in film festivals around the world.