Who the hell is Kirk Caouette?

First time director, actor, writer and composer, Kirk Caouette’s Hit‘n Strum was awarded runner-up for the Audience Award at the 2012 Whistler Film Festival and is now screening in Toronto (April 5th).

Kirk Caouette is a gifted athlete with a lifetime interest in extreme sports. His career in the movie business began with stunt doubling for a long line-up of A-list celebrities such as Jet Li, Marc Dacascos, and Hugh Jackman . A decade later he grew tired of jumping from one movie (and buildings) to the next and wanted to spread his wings. Soon he came up with the idea of “Hit‘n Strum”.

Starring Kirk Caouette (Mike) and Michelle Harrison (Stephanie) Hit’n Strum tells the story of Mike, a scruffy homeless street busker performing in Vancouver’s gritty Downtown Eastside.

Stephanie’s world is turned upside down when she is involved in a hit and run with Mike. The day after the accident Stephanie goes back to work and encounters Mike outside of her building, busking. Seeing Mike’s tattered life Michelle tries to alleviate her guilt by trying to help him off the streets and rebuild his life.

Both actors showcase a solid, realistic and believable performance of what happens when two people from very different walks of life collide.

Caouette’s Mike is convincing as the spirited bearded busker who lives to sing his songs. Harrison is the incarnation of the affluent and privileged professional that fights inner guilt. The found object percussion sets an up-beat tempo for the film, complimenting the pictures in motion while juxtaposing the characters’ two different wolds. Wisely directed, Kirk Caouette’s honest and well-rounded film does not succumb to the the predictable love story “fairy tale ending”. Hit‘n Strum confirms Kirk Caouette talents as filmmaker on the Canadian stage. This heart-felt film won me over, I look forward to Caouette’s next project.

Christophe Chanel