Balancing family drama and environmental politics is an ambitious goal for any filmmaker, let alone one making their directorial debut. It’s no surprise, then, that A Stone’s Throw is uneven. Set in rural Nova Scotia, the film tells the story of Jack Walker, an activist photojournalist paying an unexpected visit to his long-estranged sister. Each of the film’s characters seems to exist as much to represent a particular viewpoint as to serve the story. Thomas, Jack’s nephew, is the sort of teen who posters his wall with pages torn from Adbusters. His sister Olivia is a bundle of conservatism, her ex-husband the factory worker who has to put practical concerns like earning a living ahead of abstract eco-thought, and so on.

Even when the ideologies smack of heavy-handedness, though, it’s never enough to derail the film. If the lush cinematography is any indication, A Stone’s Throw was a labour of love for director Camelia Frieberg, who previously produced The Sweet Hereafter and Exotica. Though the film goes out of its way to provide a balanced viewpoint, Frieberg’s loving treatment of the Nova Scotian landscape makes it clear where her allegiances lie. The devotion to balance has its drawbacks, though, as it prevents A Stone’s Throw from making any grand statements; the film has to content itself with raising issues.

Perhaps this is why the Arusha Centre has chosen A Stone’s Throw as the first non-documentary feature in its Action Films series. Following the film’s screening, a panel discussion will take place, featuring representatives from the Calgary and District Labour Council as well as Greenpeace.