Lazhar la zap

The film Monsieur Lazhar has been playing for what seems like a billion weeks in Gatineau, but a special night was organized to celebrate it here in Ottawa. Quebéc director Philippe Falardeau's drama was screened at an invite-only NAC shindig earlier this week, 25 years after Falardeau ended his stint there as a theatre usher.

Monsieur Lazhar has already been named Canada's Best Film of 2011 by the Toronto Film Critics’ Association and is on the fast track to winning at least one Genie Etrog and (possibly) an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film this year. Canadian films previously nominated for that Oscar are The Decline of the American Empire (1986), Jesus of Montreal (1989), The Barbarian Invasions (2003) and Water (2006). The Barbarian Invasions is the only nominee to win a Best Foreign Language Film Oscar - so far. 

The Genies have a little bit better track record of rewarding Canadian movies. Every year, pretty much. Lazhar faces off against A Dangerous Method, Café du flore, Starbuck, and The Whistleblower for Best Motion Picture in March (http://www.genieawards.ca/genie32/main.cfm).

Here's Monsieur Lazhar's synopsis from Telefilm Canada:

"While going through his own personal tragedy, Bachir Lazhar, is hired as a substitute in an elementary school after the abrupt death of one of the teachers. With great sensitivity and humour, Monsieur Lazhar depicts the encounter of two distant worlds: that of a 55-year-old Algerian immigrant and of a group of shaken but endearing kids. Together they will transcend their losses." - http://www.telefilm.gc.ca/en/catalogues/production/monsieur-lazhar

Check out the short video interview Falardeau did with CBC Ottawa's Sandra Abma (http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/Canada/Ottawa/1305550861/ID=2193553667).

As always, you can find where and when movies are playing here in Ottawa by checking out Google showtimes (http://www.google.ca/movies?near=kanata-ottawa&hl=en&view=map&date=0) found throughout the moviequips.ca site.

Thanks for checking in.

Starry, starry nights

SCREEN WRITER
This short article by Janet Uren featured in a recent edition of Ottawa Magazine cites decor rescued from Gatineau's long-gone 1200-seat movie house, the Laurier Theatre (1920-1963).

http://www.ottawamagazine.com/homes-gardens/2011/02/11/from-the-print-edition-a-little-theatre-history-finds-a-home-in-new-edinburgh/#more-7327


You can find a little more info about the Laurier Theatre (aka Cinéma Laurier), in french, at this page from the Société d'histoire de l'Outaouais' Patrimoine de l'Outaouais site (via the Library and Archives Canada portal):

http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/205/301/ic/cdc/patrimoi/laurier.htm


CINÉ MONDE
Speaking of french cinemas (loosely), this April the Canadian Film Institute transforms its Library and Archives Canada digs on Wellington Street into one for the 9th DiverCiné: A World View of La Francophonie, "a film festival organized jointly by the Embassy of France in Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage. This festival is a unique opportunity for Canadians to discover the works of filmmakers from various countries of La Francophonie." Admission is $6 per film, per person.

http://www.cfi-icf.ca/index.php?option=com_cfi&task=showevent&id=66


SCREEN SHOT - cinemamuetquebec.ca
Continuing the theme (slightly), SILENT CINEMA IN QUEBEC 1896-1930 is an impressive educational site that takes you on a visual tour of Québec's silent film era. "Let us tell you the history of the beginning of cinema in Quebec. You will learn all about its pioneers and craftsmen and will live the experience of going to the movies during the silent era."

http://www.cinemamuetquebec.ca/


STARRY NIGHT IN OTTAWA
So the 31st Genie Awards have come and gone, but you still have a chance to see or revisit the hour-long show hosted at the NAC, courtesy of the CBC website:

http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/More_Shows/Genie_Awards/1578406536/ID=1837907039


You can also check out some pics shot at the Genies' Fan Zone, available at both the moviequips.ca flickr gallery and the moviequips.ca facebook album.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moviequips/sets/72157626142312063/

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=174694&id=7211861866

Thanks for checking in.

Short sweet screen dreams

It was an enjoyable time spent at the Rideau Centre a couple of weekends ago. No, I wasn't reliving my misspent youth as a mall rat. CBC held a couple of autograph sessions that saturday, featuring personalities from its roster of radio and television programs. Better still, amongst those featured celebs, Sheila McCarthy and Rémy Girard are also Genie-winning Canadian movie stars. Check out these and other pics at the moviequips flickr page:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moviequips/

IN PRODUCTION

I was hoping to have an article about the first Canadian Film Awards (the precursor to the Genies) ready to post. Like (it seems) everything else in the real world and in moviequips land, it's still in the works. Only a few bits of info available online, found so far. The slight scandal surrounding director Robert Anderson's winning film Drug Addict was funny. More to come.

A couple of components newly added to this site and worth mentioning are the calendar (see lower right side bar here) and a link to the "crypt" of previous movie reviews, found via The Wayback Machine archive. You can find the latter in the quipsography section at moviequips.ca (http://moviequips.ca/#QUIPSOGRAPHY).

SCREENSHOTS

Saw this job listing a little while ago and thought I'd highlight it here. It's a manager position at the IMAX theatre at the Museum of Civilization here. Looks like a cool gig. Check it out if you're interested...

https://tbe.taleo.net/NA3/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=CMCC&cws=5&rid=355


While we're on the movie money trail, I also stumbled upon this site that appears to be an online worldwide clearinghouse for posting companies up for sale that's being used by clever movie studios and filmmakers to find investors.

http://www.mergernetwork.com/search/indID/159


As well, here's the interesting Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation site - itself under construction - for fans of classic movie houses.

http://www.lahtf.org/


Thanks for checking in.