Tickets and passes are on sale for the Comox Valley Art Gallery’s winter film series, which opens Jan. 13, with The Grizzlies by Miranda de Pencier.
The Grizzlies – Sun/Wed, Jan. 13 & 16.
Based on a true story, The Grizzlies is a story about the determination and resilience of a group of Inuit youth in Kugluktuk, a small Arctic town struggling with one of the highest suicide rates in North America. Through the introduction of the game of lacrosse, the youth find a vital outlet for their emotions, and the team creates a sense of pride and purpose in themselves and their community.
Shoplifters – Sun/Wed, Jan. 20 & 23
Winner of the Palm d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Shoplifters explores the ways in which the security of a loving family – as well as the need to survive – can sometimes overshadow morally questionable behaviour.
Maria By Callas – Sun/Wed, Jan. 27 & 30
Pulling back the curtain on one of the world’s most recognizable voices, Maria by Callas presents an intimate and carefully constructed portrait of revered soprano Maria Callas. Iconic both onstage and off, Callas’ talent and operatic artistry brought her legions of fans and admirers around the world. However, despite her success and widely esteemed talent, her artistic life was often eclipsed by her celebrity.
Sir – Sun/Wed, Feb. 10 &13
Ratna works as maid-servant for Ashwin, the wealthy son of a builder and her boss. They come from opposite sides of the world and perspective. She is full of hope with nothing, and he’s lost his dreams while seeming to have it all. An unlikely romance comes to fore as worlds collide and people connect.
Beautiful Boy – Sun/Wed, Feb. 17 & 20
Based on the best-selling pair of memoirs from father and son David and Nic Sheff, Beautiful Boy chronicles the heartbreaking and inspiring experience of survival, relapse and recovery in a family coping with addiction over many years.
The Woman Who Loves Giraffes – Sun/Wed, Feb. 24 & 27
Dr. Anne Innis Dagg re-traces the steps of her groundbreaking 1956 journey to South Africa to study giraffes in the wild - and discovers a startling contrast between the world of giraffes she once knew and the one it has become. Weaving through the past and present, her harrowing journey gives us an intimate look into the factors that destroyed her career and the forces that brought her back.
If Beale Street Could Talk – Sun/Wed, Mar. 10 & 13
Adapted from James Baldwin’s poignant novel about a woman fighting to free her falsely accused husband from prison before the birth of their child. The film draws deeply and faithfully from Baldwin, whose profound insight into African Americans’ unique place in society serves as inspiration for this gorgeous tone poem on love and justice.
Capernaum – Sun/Wed, Mar. 24 & 27
Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Capernaum tells the story of Zain, a Lebanese boy who sues his parents for the “crime” of giving him life. A dive into Beirut’s lower depths, the film is viewed through the eyes of an imperiled child — gutsy and streetwise — as he flees his negligent parents, survives through his wits on the streets and eventually seeks justice in a courtroom.
You Are Here: A Come From Away Story – Sun/Wed Mar. 31 & Apr. 3
In 2001, the community of Gander, Newfoundland welcomed over 6,500 airline passengers who were forced to land after the terrorist attacks in 9/11. This emotional, undeniably heartwarming documentary tells the extraordinary tale that was the basis for the hit musical, Come From Away.
Women At War – Sun/Wed, Apr. 7 & 10
Halla is a choirmaster who loves her job. And, she’s just learned she’s been approved to adopt a child from a war-torn area in Ukraine, a longtime dream of hers. The only hitch is that Halla is also a terrorist – an eco-terrorist to be exact. The proliferation of heavy industry, urged on by unscrupulous politicians, has been ruining Iceland’s rugged landscape and she’s taken action.
Passes for all 10 films are $140 for CVAG members and $150 for non-members. Individual tickets are $14 each for CVAG members and $15 for non-members.
(Please note: passes and tickets will be sold for either Sunday or Wednesday screenings.) Call 250-338-6211 ext 1 to purchase tickets over the phone, or drop by CVAG at 580 Duncan Ave. in Courtenay.
All films are at Landmark Cinemas, 2665 Cliffe Ave. in Courtenay.
Visit www.comoxvalleyartgallery.com for complete film listing.