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Tautuktavuk: What We See
Blurring the line between narrative and non-fiction, Co-directed by Carol Kunnuk and Lucy Tulugarjuk tells a powerful story of siblings doing their best to connect during the pandemic.
Uyarak and her eldest sister Saqpinak, also played by Kunnuk and Tulugarjuk, embark on a difficult healing journey after a traumatic event that reminds them of the importance of community, culture, and family.
The film becomes a series of vignettes of heartache and healing detailing the lived reality of its characters and creators.
Content warning: This film includes challenging and/or triggering subject matter, including discussions of sexual violence and abuse.
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We will be hosting a special event screening on March 24. Join us for a pre-show performance and a post-film Q&A with one of the filmmakers.
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The Queen of My Dreams
Canadian writer and director, Fawzia Mirza’s stylish feature debut mashes up the textures of Indian cinema and a Canadian coming-of-age, tracing key moments in the lives of a mother and daughter born three decades apart.
Azra (Amrit Kaur), a Canadian-born daughter, and her conservative Muslim mother, Mariam (Nimra Bucha), have contrasting lives. When Azra's father unexpectedly passes away during a visit to Pakistan, she embarks on a Bollywood-inspired journey through their memories, bridging the gap between her mother's youth in Karachi and her own coming-of-age in rural Canada. Both mother and daughter share a passion for Bollywood fantasy, shaping their individual coming-of-age experiences in different eras.
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Love Lies Bleeding
“Love Lies Bleeding’s total lack of filter is its greatest strength. It’s the sort of film you instinctively want to tuck under a mattress: hot, nasty and mouth-wateringly disreputable, this is cinema with nothing to lose.” -Robbie Collin, The Telegraph
Premiering at this year's Sundance Film Festival, Rose Glass follow-up to “Saint Maud” is a raw, intense, and unapologetic romantic thriller with an all-star cast including Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, Ed Harris, Jena Malone, and Dave Franco.
In an electric new love story; reclusive gym manager Lou (Kristen Stewart) falls hard for Jackie (Katy O’Brian), an ambitious bodybuilder headed through town to Vegas in pursuit of her dream. But their love ignites violence, pulling them deep into the web of Lou’s criminal family.
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Perfect Days
Hirayama, a Tokyo toilet cleaner, exudes contentment with his seemingly simple life. Behind the facade of his structured daily routine lies a fervent passion for music, an insatiable appetite for books, and an unusual fondness for photographing trees. Unforeseen encounters unveil his hidden past.
"Perfect Days," a Wim Wenders feature, was inspired from his post-pandemic visits to Tokyo, where he was invited to the Tokyo Toilet Project—a redesign of 17 Shibuya public toilets with global creators. Co-screenwriter Takuma Takasaki found the character Hirayama to be a captivating uncharted storytelling frontier.
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Shayda
In Noora Niasari's fiction debut, brave Iranian mother Shayda (Zar Amir Ebrahimi) seeks refuge in an Australian women's shelter with her daughter during Nowruz, the Persian New Year. As they embark on a journey of renewal, Shayda's estranged husband threatens their newfound freedom.
Starring Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Cannes' Best Actress winner for "Holy Spider," the film captures Shayda's resilience. With nuanced performances by Ebrahimi and Selina Zahednia as Mona, the film delves into the complexities of escaping abuse while navigating legal challenges.
Drawing from Niasari's own experiences, "Shayda" is a poignant portrayal of strength and survival, paying tribute to the indomitable spirit of Iranian women.
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Poor Things
From visionary filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos, “Poor Things” draws inspiration from Alasdair Gray's 1992 novel, delivering an unforgettable narrative centered around Bella Baxter, a young Victorian woman who experiences a peculiar resurrection, courtesy of the brilliant yet unconventional scientist, Dr. Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe).
Brought back to life, Bella (Emma Stone,) embarks on an odyssey of self-discovery and sexual liberation, guided by the watchful eye of Dr. Baxter. Bella's appetite for worldly experiences, once absent from her previous life, leads her on an unexpected journey when she escapes with Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a debauched lawyer. Their partnership sets the stage for a whirlwind adventure spanning continents, set against the backdrop of an alternate Victorian-era Scotland, where Bella is free from the societal prejudices of her time.
What unfolds is a mesmerizing blend of romance, adventure, and the macabre, as Bella navigates her strange new existence.
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Drunken Cinema: Beverly Hills Cop
Drunken Cinema invites you to get ready for this summers return of the one and only Axel Foley with a screening of the cult buddy cop classic, BEVERLY HILLS COP!
This surprise sleeper hit managed to beat other popular cult classics such as GREMLINS, INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM and GHOSTBUSTERS at the box office in 1984. That's right, not even quality special effects on-screen were enough to deter the world from experiencing Murphy's charm, humour and unforgettable laugh on the big screen! Come and participate in an interactive movie game experience for a classic film that launched Eddie Murphy into superstardom in a great theatre with a fun crowd!
What is Drunken Cinema? It’s a monthly interactive movie game series that brings a twist to the movie-going experience. Customized game card and prop included in the price of admission!
Note: event pricing in effect.
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The Peanut Butter Solution
The next Klassic Kidz selection is a hair-raising Canadian comedy that creeped out a generation and enjoys almost legendary status among those who saw it growing up—largely owing to its wonderfully nutso story!
Eleven-year-old Michael enters a burned-out mansion and gets a fright that literally scares the hair off his head. Bald and bummed out, he’s visited by a pair of ghosts who offer him a remedy: a magic formula made of peanut butter, which mustn’t be overused. When Michael heedlessly adds extra PB into the concoction, not only does his hair grow back as promised, it won’t stop!
Recently covered on the uber popular podcast "How Did This Get Made?" this cult classic from the Tales For All series is hands down the most surreal children’s movie in Canadian history and definitely has to be seen to be believed. Don't miss this rare chance to see it on the big screen!
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Hey Viktor!
In the mockumentary debut, Indigenous actor Cody Lightning aims to revive his career by spearheading a sequel to the beloved film Smoke Signals, originally released in 1998..
Twenty-five long years after his time in the limelight, Cody thinks it’s time to revisit the iconic role he once played (as “Viktor,” to avoid a potential lawsuit), alongside the original cast.
Logically, he hijacks a film crew to pitch his sequel idea, all while navigating a tumultuous journey fueled by greed and fame.
“Hey, Viktor!” offers a mix of nostalgic nods and outrageous humour, blending mockumentary tropes with themes of fame, and cultural significance. It’s a comedy that’s as smart as it is raunchy and marks the arrival of a major comedic voice in Canadian and Native cinema.
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Hundreds of Beavers
A slapstick epic about a frostbitten battle between JEAN KAYAK and DIABOLICAL BEAVERS... hundreds of them... who stand between him and survival.
The comedy cult-hit of the 2023 festival circuit, is coming to ByTowne Cinema!
In this 19th century, supernatural winter epic, a drunken applejack salesman must go from
zero to hero and become the greatest fur trapper by defeating hundreds of beavers.
Part Funniest Home Videos, part Buster Keaton, part Looney Tunes, all animals are played by puppets or mascot costumes, resulting in a bizarre concoction that has to be seen to be believed.
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Sing Along! Jesus Christ Superstar
What would Easter weekend be without our annual Jesus Christ Superstar Sing-along?!
Spend Easter Sunday rocking out with Jesus and the gang! One show only!
This bold interpretation of the hit rock opera and Broadway smash from Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, tells the story of Christ's (Ted Neeley) final weeks through a series of dazzling songs, images and music.
Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Musical Adaptation, Director Norman Jewison creates a brilliant example of groundbreaking vision and unforgettable songs shot entirely on location in Israel. Although there have been a few adaptations since, this version remains utterly one-of-a-kind and is a cinematic experience that definitely comes to life on the big screen.
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Interactive! Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Join us for our Interactive! series, where we transform your fave movies into new, exciting experiences. This sing-along/gallop-along feature a list of audience-led prompts and shout outs - a surefire way to make a movie unforgettable.
You will get a pair of coconut halves to clip-clop along with the Knights of Camelot as they travel about a damp, muddy landscape!
Everyone's fave Monty Python film is comedic send-up of the grim circumstances of the Middle Ages as told through the story of King Arthur and framed by a modern-day murder investigation. When the mythical king of the Britons leads his knights on a quest for the Holy Grail, they face a wide array of horrors, including a persistent Black Knight, a three-headed giant, a cadre of shrubbery-challenged knights, the perilous Castle Anthrax, a killer rabbit, a house of virgins, and a handful of very rude Frenchmen.
Come and say a very hearty "Ni" with us!
* Event pricing in effect!
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Iris et les hommes (It's Raining Men)
Ne manquer pas la nouvelle comédie francais de Caroline Vignal. La réalisatrice de “Antoinette dans les Cévennes” retrouve Laure Calamy (“Les Cyclades”), pour une exploration de la femme moderne!
Un mari formidable, deux filles parfaites, un cabinet dentaire florissant : tout va bien pour Iris. Mais depuis quand n’a-t-elle pas fait l’amour ? Peut-être est-il temps de prendre un amant. S'inscrivant sur une banale appli de rencontre, Iris (Laure Calamy) ouvre la boite de Pandore. Les hommes vont tomber… Comme s’il en pleuvait!
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Don't miss Caroline Vignal's new hilarious French comedy. The director of "Antoinette in the Cévennes" reunites with Laure Calamy ("Les Cyclades") for an exploration of the modern woman!
A fantastic husband, two perfect daughters, and a thriving dental practice: everything is going well for Iris (Laura Calamy). But when was the last time she made love? Perhaps it's time to get a lover. Candidates emerge as if from nowhere – as if it were raining men.
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The Old Oak
In a struggling mining community, TJ Ballantyne, the determined pub owner fights to keep the last pub standing. When Syrian refugees unexpectedly arrive in the village, tensions escalate. TJ forges an improbable friendship with Yara, a young Syrian with a camera, as they strive to bridge the divide between the two communities.
The Old Oak," directed by BAFTA winner Ken Loach and written by Paul Laverty, delves into themes of fragility, hope, and human connection during difficult times. This film marks another chapter in their enduring collaboration, with the addition of BAFTA-winning producer Rebecca O'Brien, following the success of acclaimed films like "Sorry We Missed You" and "I, Daniel Blake.
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Exhuma
From South Korean director Jang Jae-hyun comes his newest hit "Exhuma". Choi Min-sik (Oldboy) stars in this blockbuster psychological thriller about a group of experts whose investigation of a mysterious illness leads them to an ancestral grave located on sacred ground.
When a renowned shaman (KIM Go-Eun) and her protégé (Lee Do-hyun) are hired by a wealthy, enigmatic family, they begin investigating the cause of a disturbing supernatural illness that affects only the first-born children of each generation. With the help of a knowledgeable mortician (YOO Hai-jin) and the country’s most revered geomancer (CHOI Min-sik), they soon trace the affliction’s origin to a long-hidden family grave located on sacred ground. Sensing an ominous aura surrounding the burial site, the team opts to exhume and relocate the ancestral remains immediately. But as something much darker emerges, they soon discover what befalls those who dare to mess with the wrong grave.
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Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus
“Ars longa, vita brevis” – art is long, life is short.
On March 28th, 2023, legendary composer Ryuichi Sakamoto passed away after his struggle against cancer. In the years leading up to his death, Sakamoto could no longer perform live. Despite this, in late 2022, Sakamoto mustered all his energy to leave the world with one final performance: a concert film, featuring just him and his piano.
Curated by Sakamoto himself and presented in his chosen order, the 20 pieces performed in the film wordlessly narrate his life through his music. Featuring award-winning music from Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence and The Last Emperor, amongst other seminal scores and piano compositions, in his last performance. Filmed by his son, Neo Sora, "Ryuichi Sakamoto | Opus" is a celebration of an artist’s life in the purest sense, the definitive swan song of the beloved maestro.
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Wicked Little Letters
Based on a stranger than fiction true story!
In the 1920s English seaside town of Littlehampton, neighbours Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) and Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley) are embroiled in a scandal involving anonymous, profanity-laden letters. When Edith and fellow residents begin to receive wicked letters full of unintentionally hilarious profanities, foul-mouthed Rose is charged with the crime. The anonymous letters prompt a national uproar, and a trial ensues. However, as the town’s women - led by Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan) - begin to investigate the crime themselves, they suspect that something is amiss, and Rose may not be the culprit after all.
With sharp dialogue and dark comedic undertones, "Wicked Little Letters" explores themes of misogyny and repression in a riotous mystery comedy.
Directed by Thea Sharrock (“Me Before You”), the film captures the absurdity and tragedy of a scandalous true story.
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La chimera
named one of the top 5 international films of 2023 by the National Board of Review, “La Chimera” weaves a dreamlike narrative through Tuscany's archaeological wonders, invoking cinematic giants like Pasolini, Fellini, Olmi, and the Taviani brothers. The film pays homage to Italy's rich cinematic history, immersing viewers in a mind palace filled with ghosts and treasures.
Arthur, a former archeological scholar with a knack for locating antiquities using a dowsing rod, pursues his long-lost love Beniamina amidst the Etruscan treasures. Reconnecting with his beloved's aristocratic mother, Flora (Isabella Rossellini), and caretaker Italia (Carol Duarte), Arthur's quest takes a compelling turn. Freshly released from an Italian prison, he reunites with his eclectic crew to unearth a fifth-century relic, sparking questions about ownership and the morality of plundering the past.
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The People's Joker
After some *cough* complications, at its world premiere at last year's Toronto International Film Festival, “The People’s Joker” is coming to ByTowne Cinema! Legally!
In writer-director, Vera Drew's uproariously subversive queer coming-of-age origin story sees an aspiring clown whose attempts at humour fall painfully flat. While struggling with her gender identity, Joker (Vera Drew) desperately seeks acceptance in Gotham City's only comedy program, set in a world where comedy is forbidden. However, facing constant rejection, she joins forces with a motley crew of outcasts to form an underground anti-comedy troupe. Their illegal performances draw the attention of the city's cunning vigilante, setting the stage for a showdown between Joker and the sinister figure ruling over Gotham.
The film also features comedy heavy hitters Scott Aukerman, Tim Heidecker, Maria Bamford and Bob Odenkirk in supporting roles.
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Limbo
“Led by an almost unrecognizable Simon Baker as a jaded cop, Limbo weaves in themes of racial inequity, broken individuals and fractured families to build quiet potency.” - David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
Australian auteur Ivan Sen’s latest features, set within the amazing underground mining town of Limbo in South Australia, follows Jaded police detective Travis Hurley (Simon Baker, “Margin Call”) who’s handed a cold case file from 20 years ago to investigate the murdere of an Indigenous girl in a small, bare, outback mining town.
Travis arrives in the remote town and quietly moves around talking to the family of 1990’s young Indigenous murder victim Charlotte Hayes, as well as the key witnesses and the chief suspect. Travis begins to feel the cumulative impact of his interviews, which reveal the pain of an Aboriginal family, who have suffered ongoing neglect and racism at the hands of the justice system in this powerful and moving story.
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