Life on the road has been the subject of some of the most poignant works in Canadian cinema history, from Goin’ Down the Road to Highway 61 to One Week. Smart, funny and heartfelt, Cas & Dylan, the feature directorial debut from actor-turned-filmmaker Jason Priestley (television’s Call Me Fitz, Beverly Hills 90120), can now be added to that collection of memorable films.
Screen legend Richard Dreyfuss (The Goodbye Girl, Jaws) stars as Dr. Cas Pepper, a curmudgeonly surgeon whose only companion in life is his small dog. Faced with some unexpected news, Cas makes the abrupt decision to leave Winnipeg and drive west to British Columbia—and to an uncertain future. Before departing, he meets an aspiring young writer named Dylan (newcomer and TIFF Rising Star Tatiana Maslany; television’sOrphan Black, Picture Day) who possesses a life-altering secret of her own, and wouldn’t mind coming along for the ride. The two unlikely companions hit the road, encountering a series of bizarre twists and turns along their cross-country journey. And it isn’t long before they realize that, in searching for an escape route, they may have found their place in the world.
Beautifully shot against the visually stunning backdrop of the Canadian Prairies and Rocky Mountains, Cas & Dylan is a breathtaking voyage of discovery. Priestley’s wealth of experience as an actor is obvious in the performances he extracts from his two leads. Boasting a terrific soundtrack featuring Canadian artists such as Jenn Grant and Old Man Luedecke, Cas & Dylan will appeal to audiences young and old.