Alberta School for the Deaf (Gymnasium) 6240 - 113 Street Edmonton, AB Friday, January 27, 2012, 7 – 10pm The Hammer is a coming of age drama following the life of Matt Hamill, the first deaf wrestler to win a National Collegiate Wrestling Championship. Born deaf, Matt Hamill has risen to great success in the world of mixed martial arts, achieving heights few thought possible in UFC rankings. Before that, he became a three-time NCAA champion in amateur wrestling while attending RIT in Rochester. Directed by Oren Kaplan, The Hammer is an accomplished, but familiar, inspirational sports story of a young man rising to become the best, in this case as a wrestler. It tells the story of his struggles and the people in his life who kept him motivated to overcome them. The Hammer is a film that emboldens its audience, often in inventive and novel ways, and never allows itself to fall into the misguided trappings such biographies tend to incorporate. Film critic Travis Keune says: "Kaplan taps the heart string; he develops the relationships and emphasizes the difficult times, all elements that fit perfectly within the mold of an inspirational film. The one thing that stands out for me above all else, aside from the choice to cast deaf actors including Russell Harvard and Shoshannah Stern, is the way Kaplan handled key moments in Hamill's personal growth, moments of significance that shape his character. These most crucial experiences are conveyed in silence, not a mechanical silence, but a living, organic silence that illustrates the world in which matt lives. The result is an increased sense of being in the moment and a heightening of the dramatic impact for the viewer. The Hammer also employs subtitles in a creative way, illustrating Matt's struggle with reading lips. These little touches are what allow The Hammer to stand out from the crowd as an above average inspirational film, despite what might often feel a bit like a Hallmark movie, but also happens to be based on a true story. Matt Hamill is a real person, which is ultimately the most inspirational aspect of such films. At the end of The Hammer, the audience is treated to the genre standard of meeting the real life character, but the film wouldn't be complete without this opportunity." City / Town : Edmonton Event Venue : Other Neighbourhood : Allendale, Grandview Heights, Lansdowne, Lendrum Place, Pleasantview Short Description : The Hammer is a coming of age drama following the life of Matt Hamill, the first deaf wrestler to win a National Collegiage Wrestling Championship Event Category : Family / Children, Film Cost : Adults $12.00, Seniors, students and children $10.00 Where to purchase tickets : Edmonton Association of the Deaf Community Centre (Upstairs), 11404 - 142 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T5M 1V1 Tickets Phone : 780-221-3519 Contact Name : Adrianna O'Regan Contact Phone : 780-221-3519 Contact Email : acsdoffice@shawcable.com Additional Information : This movie is rated PG13 and is closed captioned so that it may be enjoyed by both the Deaf and the hearing. More info : www.aadnews.ca….
Event Details. Location:
6240 113 Street