This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover is limited to 2,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
From arthouse to Canuxploitation, Canadian International Pictures (CIP) is devoted to resurrecting vital, distinctive, and overlooked triumphs of Canadian cinema. This label is focused on the country’s original cinematic boom years – spanning the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s – occasionally venturing past that period (and the country’s borders) to highlight the films of Canada’s most inspired actors and filmmakers. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing CIP's brand new line of home video releases!
"Larry Kent was a heroic figure for me... I loved him on the spot." – David Cronenberg
With a dead-end job and a potentially pregnant girlfriend jeopardizing his freedom, Des (Cathy’s Curse’s Alan Scarfe) spirals into bitterness, misanthropy, and fantasies of violent crime. While visiting a sick friend one afternoon, he crosses paths with the similarly jaded, even suicidal Laurie (Lynn Stewart), a young parent working as a waitress to provide for her child and struggling playwright husband (Philip Brown). Desperate to recapture a sense of vitality – and raise money for rent – this troubled couple invites Des and a group of local beatniks over for a hedonistic party that culminates in a series of shocking acts of violence and betrayal.
Made for just $5,000, The Bitter Ash is the first feature from celebrated independent filmmaker Larry Kent, a cinematic trailblazer cited as a key influence by countrymates David Cronenberg and Atom Egoyan. Playing like a Canadian answer to John Cassavetes’ Shadows, this first entry in Kent’s seminal Vancouver Trilogy (followed by Sweet Substitute and When Tomorrow Dies) also flirts with the frank sexuality and other provocations of ’60s exploitation cinema, which led to a series of censorship battles, dooming the film to decades of obscurity. CIP is thrilled to resurrect this groundbreaking classic with a new 4K restoration.
directed by: Larry Kent
starring: Alan Scarfe, Lynn Stewart, Philip Brown, Diane Griffith, Lee Mackenzie, Larry Kent, Leo Burdak, Brian Belfont, Joceline Thompson, Douglas Reid, Barbara Dalquist, John Brighton, Sharon Bunce, Mitzi Hurd
1963 / 80 min / 1.37:1 / English DTS-HD MA 2.0
Additional info:
Overall rating: 4.646154 / 5 from 65 reviews.
The Bitter Ash, a limited edition spot gloss slipcover, is a significant release from Canadian International Pictures. This 4K restored film, directed by Larry Kent, has garnered praise for its raw and interesting art, excellent packaging, and brilliant jazzy score. It is a must-have for fans of Canadian cinema and exploitation films.
Review topics: ["looks","feel","picture","buy","work","film","release","movie","score","extras","melodrama","restoration","characters","drama","music","slipcover","mother","cinematography","features","discovery","man","example","booklet","watch","vibe","flick","soul","budget","performances","experience"].
"The slipcover is really cool, and the movie features a great storyline and characters that keep you engaged throughout! The extras are also really good! The peerless VS restoration process was on full display with stellar sound and picture! Thank you, VS, for continuing to lovingly restore and release so many wonderful films from every conceivable genre! You are keeping physical media alive in this streaming world we now live in! Highly recommended!"
"While it's definitely tame by modern standards, it's easy to see how this would've caused a stir back in the early '60s. CIP, once again, resurrects a Canadian staple from obscurity in the best presentation possible. I definitely need to pick up the rest of the Vancouver trilogy!"
"The Bitter Ash, directed by Larry Kent, is a raw, low‑budget portrait of youthful disillusionment that captures the restless energy of early ’60s counterculture before it fully took shape. Shot in Vancouver with non‑professional actors, the film follows a young man drifting between bohemian circles and the responsibilities of conventional adulthood. What stands out is its unvarnished honesty: Kent leans into rough edges—awkward performances, handheld camerawork, jagged editing—to create a sense of immediacy that feels almost documentary. Beneath its scrappy exterior, the film is surprisingly sharp about class, desire, and the tension between rebellion and conformity. It’s not polished, but that’s part of its charm; The Bitter Ash has the feel of a filmmaker testing boundaries and discovering a voice. As an early example of English‑Canadian independent cinema, it’s both historically significant and intriguingly alive."
"This was a strange, albeit interesting little indie film from Canada. Almost a slice of life drama, shot in moody black and white, and inhabiting an odd, but inviting atmosphere. The disc is packed with special features which are well worth your time if you enjoyed the film itself."
"This film feels like John Cassavetes fulfilling a contract at Something Weird studios. The beatniks, uneven dubbing & homemade jazzy score add exploitation sensibilities to a bleak character drama. Glad to own a copy of this movie!"
"Quite enjoyed this time capsule release from CIP. This is the first feature from Larry Kent’s “Vancouver Trilogy”. It is also the first one I have watched, and certainly has me considering looking into the two follow-ups. The movie itself is even more fascinating after watching the plentiful, and informative extras on the disc. All in all this is another packed, and excellent release from CIP."
"Great release from CIP of an influential and boundary pushing (for the time) Canadian indie film. The movie itself is a leisurely look at Canadian youth and counterculture in the early 60s. Filled with great jazz music."
"Another great obscure Canadian kitchen sink movie has resurfaced thanks to the good folks at Canadian International Pictures. Highly recommended for those who dig deep!"
"This Canadian release is a treasure. The look and feel of the film are reminiscent of the British films of the post war era. Recommended."
"Low budget Canadian melodrama with nice atmosphere. Like the slipcover art"
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