An out-of-control mayor will stop at nothing to extricate himself from scandal when when video surfaces that shows him smoking crack.
Not only was that the real-life story that played out with former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, it’s also the plot of an upcoming movie called “Filth City”.
While the film never mentions Ford by name — the politician protagonist is named Tom Hogg — the fact that the movie claims to be “inspired by true events” makes it pretty clear from where the filmmakers took the idea for the over-the-top political satire which boasts the tagline: “The crime rate is high. So is the mayor.”
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Former Toronto City Councillor Doug Ford called the movie “a joke” in an interview with Newstalk 1010’s “Rush with Ryan Doyle and Jay Michaels”.
“It’s not even accurate, even the trailer, people getting shot. You’ve got to be kidding,” Ford said.
In regards to his drug problem, Doug added, “Rob had that issue, went and got help, I was proud of him. After that, a loss of life, so it’s hurtful.
“But there’s always scumbags out there that are going to do this and try to profit off anything they can,” he continued.
Directed and co-written by Andy King, “Filth City” stars Pat Thornton as Mayor Hogg, while other stars include Melinda Shankar and “Kenny vs. Spenny” star Kenny Hotz.
“When Tom Hogg (Pat Thornton), a drug-addicted mayor fighting for re-election, is caught on video smoking crack, he’ll do almost anything to keep it out of the wrong hands,” reads the “Filth City” synopsis. “Hogg’s campaign staff and syndicate of dirty cops work to keep the video’s existence a secret while others want to see the mayor go down. Crime, corruption and the largest garbage strike in York history. The result is a rollicking neo-noir tale, inspired by true events.”
Ford’s crack-smoking video made headlines and became the butt of jokes from every late-night comedian; he passed away from cancer in March 2016 at age 46.
The film will be screened on Mar. 25 at Toronto’s Scotiabank Centre on the closing night of Canadian Film Fest.