The 16th annual Cinema CNC Film Festival, featuring the best of Canadian film, hits the big screen at the Prince George Playhouse March 9 to 11.
"We've got a great lineup for the festival, featuring David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method, Phillipe Farladeau's Monsieur Lazhar, Lea Pool's Pink Ribbons Inc., and Harold Crooks' Surviving Progress," said Peter Maides, Cinema CNC organizer. "There's comedy, drama, history and documentaries. These films have never been seen in Prince George before."
Friday at 7 p.m., Cloudburst, by Thom Fitzgerald, who brings the adaptation of this award-winning play to the big screen. Starring Olympia Dukakis, Brenda Fricker and Ryan Doucette. Stella and Dot are a lesbian couple in Maine, whose more-than-30-year relationship has brought them to a nursing home after Dotty's daughter institutionalizes them. The pair decides to make an escape to the open road, heading towards Nova Scotia.
Friday at 9:30 p.m., documentary Surviving Progress. Directors Mathieu Roy and Harold Crooks guides the audience through a sweeping survey of the major progress traps facing our civilization in the areas of technology, economics, consumption and the environment.
Saturday at 1 p.m., Edwin Boyd, stars Scott Speedman, Brian Cox and Kelly Reilly. Edwin Boyd strives to support his family as a street car driver after returning from World War II. Disillusioned by his return to normal life and desperate to fulfill his dreams, Boyd, in a fit of desperation, disguises his appearance by donning his wife's makeup, grabs his World War II pistol and successfully robs his first bank. A story of love, forgiveness, greed and redemption, as well as the role the media plays in cultivating celebrity.
Saturday at 7 p.m., David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method, stars Viggo Mortenson, Michael Fassbender and Keira Knightley. Set in Vienna on the eve of World War I, the film explores the relationship between novice psychiatrist Carl Jung and his mentor Sigmund Freud. Studying under the already well-established Freud, Jung practices his teacher's methods while developing his own theories based on the clinical study of disturbed patients.
Saturday at 9 p.m., Lea Pool's documentary Pink Ribbons Inc. Fuelled by informative and often chilling interviews, this is a ferocious and infuriating expose, bound to incite discussions about a subject particular to our times. One of the central issues of the film is the disease's status as the poster child for what activist Barbara Brenner deems cause marketing, a kind of microcosmic variation on disaster capitalism.
Sunday at 2 p.m., Le Vendeur, directed by Sebastien Pilote and starring Gilbert Sicotte and Nathalie Cavezzali. Marcel is the top car salesman in town. Past retirement, he still shows up for work with the same enthusiasm he's always had. The paper mill is being shut down and most people are leaving. But there are events even a top salesman can't control and Marcel's life is about to change suddenly and immeasurably.
Sunday at 7 p.m., Monsieur Lazhar, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. Following the tragic and shocking death of a schoolteacher, Bachir Lazhar, a middle-aged Algerian immigrant seeking political refuge in Quebec, swiftly pursues the opportunity to fill the sudden vacancy and come to the aid of an over-worked principal and students affected by the tragedy. To these children in shock, Lazhar's traditional teaching methods may well provide the structure they need.
Sunday at 9:30 p.m., a cross-Canada trek Down the Road Again wraps up the festival. It's been 40 years since the seminal Canadian film Goin' Down the Road set the measure by which other road films are judged. This follow-up reintroduces us to Pet, just ending his career with Canada Post, at the same time receiving news of Joey's death, a fist-full of money, a series of letters, Joey's ashes and a quest to finish some of what the two of them started.
Passes are at the CNC Bookstore, Books and Company and the UNBC Bookstore. Festival pass for eight films is $48; Friday pass $14 for two films; Saturday pass $21 for three films; Sunday pass $21 for three three films. Single tickets are $8 and available at the door only.
