THE EXCHANGE

Canada, 2021, 93 minutes, Colour.

Ed Oxenbould, Avan Jogia, Justin Hartley, Jennifer Irwin, Paul Brownstein, Jayli Wolf.

Directed by Dan Mazer.

The Exchange is a lightly serious comedy. It has been written and directed by Dan Mazer, for many years a writer for Sasha Baron:Cohen in his Ali G television days as well as for his Borat films. Which means that it is a mixture of the raucous, sentimental, satiric.

This is a Canadian feature set in the middle of nowhere being introduced in most derogatory terms. The town is in decline. However, it has its pride, and its annual parade with its parade committee.

At the centre is a teenager, Tim, played by Australian actor, Ed Oxenbould (who has worked both in Australia and in the United States with some success). Tim is something of a nerd, his music tastes, his love for French New Wave films. And he is severely bullied at school. He devises the plan for having an exchange student from Paris.

Avan Jogia is Stephane, full on from his arrival at the airport, engaging with everyone, friendly, no holds barred, but really responding to Tim’s interests, Tim very disappointed, Stephane enjoying himself, especially with the girls, good sport…

Eventually, Tim and Stephane do hit it off, mellowing, but Stephane under suspicion from the rest of the town when there is sabotage on the emblem for the town parade. However, Tim defends him as does Tim’s father who was feeling the pressure of business failure and was about to set his store a light but Stephane intervened.

There is obnoxious coach who also acts as police officer for the town who turns out to be the villain.

Happy ending – and a postscript with Tim enjoying himself very much in Paris with Stephane.

1. The title, exchange students, repercussions for the visitors, for the welcoming household, for the local community?
2. The setting, remote, the derogatory descriptions, the isolated town, families, communities, community activities, companies and sales, decline? The musical score? The songs?
3. Tim’s story, his age, at school, bullied and pushed around, his interests, The Smiths, music, the French and New Wave films? Reticent, awkward? At home with his parents? The friendship with Brenda, its ups and downs?
4. The idea of the exchange student, Tim preparing the dossier, its being accepted, the choice of Stephane? Expectations? Tim hoping for a friend?
5. At the airport, the likely candidate and his not being the one, and the end and this is exchange student’s bad reaction to the exchange? Stephane arriving, taking control? Stephane, his background, ethnic, suburbs of Paris, his perspective, irrepressible, speaking with everyone, ingratiating himself, at the airport, the school, with the secretary, teachers, the girls, skill at sport, knowledge of music, the sexual ethos of the students, back seat of cars sex, his participating?
6. Stephane, welcomed by the family? Tim, finding it hard, trying to share experiences? The drive, Stephane’s behaviour, Tim and their hitting of the cow, his fears, revival, the bonding with Stephane? The change in Tim, sharing the experiences, filming the video, his friendship with Brenda, drinking, the comments on Brenda, the confrontation, breaking with her?
7. The ethos of the town, the celebrations, the planning committee, the parade, the idea of welcoming diversity, the cynicism of the Egyptian man in the town?
8. The coach, self-satisfied, his police role in the town, the receptionist and the relationship, his interventions, his sabotaging the event, the eventual explanation?
9. Tim and his father, the business failing, the revelation of his trying to set fire to the store, Stephane intervening and saving him?
10. The destruction of the emblem for the parade, everybody turning on Stephane? Tim defending him, the truth about his helping Tim’s father?
11. The happy ending, reconciliation with Brenda, Stephane and his experience, everybody turning in favour of him? Tim and the changes?
12. The aftermath and the scenes in Paris with the two together?