Top director screens her hit film Mansfield Park at York





 


Stressful day? Tonight, relax by kicking back, watching a film and listening to Patricia Rozema (above and below, left), one of Canada’s most accomplished and internationally respected directors.


Rozema will be presenting her 1999 hit film of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, today from 6 to 9pm in Lecture Hall C, Computer Science & Engineering Building. Discussion leader will be film scholar and critic Kay Armatage, professor of cinema studies and women’s studies at the University of Toronto.


The event is the kick-off to York’s film series, The Independents, organized by the Department of Film & Video in the Faculty of Fine Arts.


Throughout her narrative feature film work, Rozema has maintained an elegant female consciousness while drawing male characters with compassion. Most notably, Rozema has established herself as an exceptional and distinctly sensual visual artist. Her films include I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing (1987), White Room (1991) and When Night is Falling (1995).


A summary of the film to be shown this evening says, “Mansfied Park follows the adventures of Fanny Price, a precociously intelligent young woman who is sent by her impoverished parents to live with wealthy relatives. Dark secrets are unearthed and romantic intrigue grows as Fanny’s honesty and burning search for truth set her on a collision course with the sexual and political repressions of the period and time.”


Watch for announcements about the next five events to come in The Independents series, which will take place in October, November, January, February and March at the end of the months.


Next up will be Allan King, often referred to as dean of Canadian documentarists, presenting his new feature documentary, Dying at Grace, with York’s Professor Seth Feldman as host and discussion leader, on Thurs. Oct. 30 at 6pm.