78 minutes – Comedy
Language: English
Festival release date: May 22, 2004 (Inside Out Festival, Toronto)
Release date: June 24, 2004
Production company: On The Stroll Productions
Distributor: THINKfilm
Based on several short stories by acclaimed writer and filmmaker Bruce LaBruce, Sugar follows a journey made by Cliff, a restless suburban teen, who is about to turn 18. Tired of his life in the ‘burbs, he takes the subway downtown armed with a token, his skateboard and a joint. And so the trip begins. On his way downtown Cliff meets and is instantly attracted to Butch, a street hustler. Introduced to downtown living, Cliff gets to meet characters like Stanley, a man who enjoys “interesting activities” with young hustlers, and a pregnant drug dealer played by Sarah Polley. Cliff gets a quick lesson in the world of drugs, boozecans and sex. In return, Cliff introduces Butch to his world, which includes his mom, the always liberal Madge, and his sister, Cookie, who despite being only 12 becomes fascinated by Butch and would love to see him begin a relationship with her brother. The two boys develop a friendship that slowly turns into a romance, but the notion of intimacy is foreign to both of them.
John Buchan
Damion Nurse
Jennifer Jonas
Todd Klinck
Todd Klinck
Jaie Laplante
John Palmer
John Westheuser
Robert Kennedy
Ravi Persaud
Danny Buchanan
Katry Sertic
Brendan Fehr
Andre Noble
Maury Chaykin
Sarah Polley
Marnie McPhail
Michael Riley
Haylee Wanstall
Patricia Wanstall
PJ Lazic
Jeffery Pazarro
Steve Alguire
Balazs Koos
Barna Moricz
Butch
Cliff
Stanley
Pregnant Girl
Madge
The Man
Cookie
Kissing Girl
Hustler
Flex
Greg
Shade
Killer
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First published as Northernstars.net February 1, 1998
ISSN 2563 4895