KENNY

See Magazine, Edmonton
Princess Theatre: Sun, Sept 30 (2pm)

This immensely likeable Australian film follows an unsung working-class hero: Kenny (Shane Jacobson), whose job is to install and maintain Porta-Potties at various public events. Shot in true documentary style, it’s takes place against the backdrop of numerous summer festivals where Kenny performs his down-and-dirty business, with occasional scenes of Kenny interacting with his family and friends.

It’s charming, funny, and full to overflowing with poop and toilet jokes. But somehow, Kenny never descends into "toilet humour"; the gags are never disgusting or at someone else’s expense. Although Kenny has a job that no one even wants to think about, he goes about his work with pride, dignity, and compassion. And while director Clayton Jacobson spends what might seem like an unseemly amount of time explaining the logistics of Porta-Potties, the business of poop turns out to be strangely fascinating. There are funny, heartbreaking, and honest performances throughout Kenny, whose portrait of its good-natured everyman hero is poignant and full of everyday adventure.