Penticton-set film, Drinkwater, in theatres this week

With showers in the forecast this weekend, taking a trip out to the theatre is surely on some peoples minds.

While the blockbuster goliath Hollywood films like Black Adam, Amsterdam, Ticket to Paradise and Don’t Worry Darling, are what would normally catch peoples eyes, there is a local flick, filmed right in Penticton, that has garnered buzz from several film organizations.

Called Drinkwater, it is an almost two-hour, coming-of-age comedy that stars Daniel Doheny, Eric McCormack and Louriza Tronco.

Set and filmed in '1980s' Penticton, the film follows Mike Drinkwater (played by Doheny) as a high-school student who is bulled. He lives with his father Hank (played by McCormack) who lives for defrauding insurance companies and the government. When a young lady moves in next door named Wallace (played by Louriza Tronco), she helps transform Mike’s life.

The film is unapologetically Canadian. There are scenes at a Tim Hortons, a subplot pertaining to a Wayne Gretzky rookie card, along with several recognizable Penticton landmarks and locations.

Mike is seen playing for the Penticton Vees and attends Penticton Secondary (or Pen High), where the Lakers' logo is emblazoned on shirts and the school.

Premiered back in 2021 at the Calgary International Film Festival, it won the Audience Choice Award for Best Canadian Narrative Film. Later, at the 2021 Whistler Film Festival, it won the Audience Award.

It is directed by Stephen Campanelli, who was a longtime member of Clint Eastwood’s film production crew. Drinkwater was produced by Suitcase Charlie Films, whose president is Graham Fraser. Fraser is the owner of the Penticton Vees and former owner of Ironman Canada.

For showtimes at Landmark Penticton, click here. For Kelowna's Grand 10, click here.