Catch a ride on the moving motorcycle journey that forms the story of One Week, Reel Alternatives’ first film of the year on Jan. 19. One Week is the highly anticipated second feature from director Michael McGowan, whose multiple award-winning debut, Saint Ralph, was named one of Canada’s Top Ten films of the year in 2005.

Saint Ralph, about a boy who aimed to defeat the odds and perform a miracle in order to save his mother’s life, won audiences the world over for its poignancy and deceptively simple storytelling technique. McGowan brings these qualities and more to One Week, a film that explores how an imminent crisis can transform a person’s perspective on the world and the meaning of true living.

As the title indicates, Ben Tyler (Joshua Jackson) has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness. What should he do? What would you do? For Ben, engaged to a beautiful woman, Samantha (Liane Balaban), the only answer that makes sense is to see as much of his country as he can, in a way that allows him to experience the dizzying freedom of the road and help him search within himself for meaning to his life.

To this end, he gets on his motorcycle and journeys from Toronto to Tofino, British Columbia. Along the way, he visits many of Canada’s iconic and lesser-known landmarks, and has encounters that enable him to get at the heart of who he is.

McGowan brings charm, buoyancy and a sometimes-sad lyricism to Ben’s quest for meaning. Filmed mostly in and around Banff, One Week, which showcases large stretches of this country’s scenic landscape, is in many ways a universal story combining the best of the odyssey film with an intensely personal account of how the threat of mortality can reawaken one to the joys and bittersweet experiences of life.

One Week is sponsored by Shaw Heating, who are including $2 off a propane tank refill with each ticket purchased. Advance tickets are $7 at Muskoka Country Furniture and Gifts on Main Street, or $8 at the Capitol Twin Cinema on movie night. Upcoming films include Rachel Getting Married and The Secret Life of Bees.  For movie links and more information about this non-profit group visit reelalternativeshuntsville.ca.