The Heroine, Sheri, is a young Chinese Canadian who, despite her mother’s obsessive fear of anything “dirty”, secretly works in a fetish parlour. One day, she comes across a strange woman going through her trash. Disturbed by what the woman says to her, Sheri asks more questions and discovers the illicit affair of her father, Wooie, and the 10-year-old curse on her family.

This quirky supernatural tale – a bizarre melange of modern family, folklore and fetish – is a unique creative partnership between award-winning director Keith Lock and sex columnist/poet Louise Bak. It was inspired by co-writer Bak’s curious family story and the mysteries of ancient “fox spirits.”

Celeste, an otherworldly beauty with magical powers, becomes trapped in our world by her passion for Wooie. But when her unwavering love is not returned, she turns vengeful. Wooie, his restaurant business and his family all take a turn for the worse. In order to release her family from Celeste’s curse, Sheri turns to her introverted friend, Cosmo, to make amends with the injured spirit.

The Ache showcases a number of Canadian talents in memorable scenes. Delightful support characters like Cosmo and Sheri’s parlour client, Wayne, offer comedic relief to the narrative. Ultimately, The Ache provides an endearing look at how sex has the power to make people behave in very strange ways.

– Heather Keung