The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
"I will leave this sorry berg and embark on a journey of self-actualization. My physical destination is Flin Flon, Manitoba, where I plan to join the Avituk Institute for the Advancement of the Inuit Peoples." Those are the words of Joe Kasko, lead character in a low budget, direct-to-video comedy from 1995 entitled "The Road to Flin Flon." Years after first reporting on it, I recently viewed this quirky piece of cinema for the second time. And while I wouldn't exactly call it a good movie Ð though it is certainly different Ð it's quite entertaining to hear an American production, or any production, reference our little town. And references are all the film contains. Because of the limited $250,000 budget, the real Flin Flon is not seen, though the conclusion features the lead character supposedly here (it's actually a bushy part of California). "The Road to Flin Flon" tells the story of Kasko and his search for a simpler life. He makes the life-altering choice to travel north to conduct social work with Inuit people at the aforementioned (and, of course, fictitious) Avituk Institute. I jotted down some of Kasko's more memorable quotes... * * * "Well, it's about as far away from L.A. as you can get where they still speak English." Ð explaining why he settled on Flin Flon. * * * "Just another example of the filthy mammon that dominates life here in Lalaland. Fortunately, I won't be needing that $600, because in Flin Flon, they care about people, not money." Ð after failing to obtain his security deposit * * * "Of course they have telephones." Ð during a conversation with his concerned mother * * * "About 80 miles west of Snow Lake." Ð after being asked the location of this strange "Flim Flam" place * * * "This is Flin Flon we're talking about, okay? There are no beaches in Flin Flon, okay? There is no Spago's (a popular diner) in Flin Flon. The girls don't wear bikinis, the weather basically sucks." Ð contrasting Flin Flon with Los Angeles * * * "So here I am, three months later, knockin' 'em dead in Flin Flon. Yeah, I know it's not the Hollywood Bowl, but there is something to be said for being a big fish in a small pond." Ð after starting a stage act in the casino that, unbeknownst to him, replaced the Avituk Institute * * * "I've made a lot of new friends, That's my buddy Josiah there, cranking the camera." Ð describing his new life in Flin Flon (and yes, it's the Josiah you're thinking of... Josiah Flintabbatey Flonatin is listed as playing the cameraman) * * * I first reported on this unique film back in 2001. Director David Fulk told me he decided to use our community's equally unique name after discovering it on his map. "When I saw Flin Flon, I just started laughing Ð not just at the thought of Flin Flon as a major urban centre, but because of... well, let's face it, it's a funny name," he said. "I'd never heard of it before, so I did some research on the town and decided to use the name in the movie, which was just getting off the ground at that point." And whoever thought Flin Flon would go Hollywood? Local Angle runs Fridays.
