The GOODS from The Cinematheque

Vancouver, BC | Head down to The Cinematheque this Friday for a special free screening of Canada’s most successful silent feature, Back to God’s Country (1919), with live musical accompaniment.

Victoria-born silent film star and female film pioneer Nell Shipman had her greatest international hit with this Far North adventure. In fact, Shipman reworked the original story to change her character’s role from a damsel in distress to a brave and capable action heroine. She plays Dolores LeBeau, a “nature girl” living with her father in the remote Canadian wilderness, before fleeing the unwanted attention of the villainous Rydal on board a whaling schooner bound for the Arctic.

Live musical accompaniment by Gabriel Thibaudeau, Canadian composer, pianist, and conductor, and silent film pianist in residence at the Cinémathèque Québécoise in Montreal. Mr. Thibaudeau will perform the original score he wrote to accompany the restoration of the film.

“Back to God’s Country is notable for its romantic naturalism, activist heroine, scenes of Shipman interacting with a bear in its natural habitat — and, of course, the first nude scenes in Canadian cinema” (TIFF/Canada on Screen).

Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 6:30pm on Friday, November 17. Find out more here!

DETAILS

1131 Howe Street | Vancouver, BC
Telephone: 604-688-8202
Website: www.thecinematheque.ca | Facebook | Twitter | Issu

GALLERY

Key People

Jim Sinclair – Executive + Artistic Director
Kate Ladyshewsky – Managing Director

About The Cinematheque

The Cinematheque is a charitable cultural organization that brings the Essential Cinema Experience to Vancouver audiences. Home to one of the largest and most extensive programs of curated films in North America, The Cinematheque presents over 500 screenings annually including retrospectives of great directors’ works, new features from Canada’s hottest young filmmakers, prestigious internationally touring exhibitions, plus guest appearances, lectures, special receptions, and much more.

The Cinematheque is also home to the West Coast Film Archive, a collection which holds 2000+ works on 16mm and 35mm film, the Film Reference Library, and an award-winning Education Department that works with youth, educators, and the community-at-large year-round to provide digitial filmmaking programs, critical media literacy workshops, and educational film screenings.

PRESS

“Going to The Cinematheque is the closest thing to visiting Manhattan without leaving Vancouver …. Its program is as innovative and entertaining as any you’ll find in New York.” David Spaner, The Province

“For the true cinema lover who appreciates foreign and independent retrospectives, restorations, experimental films, and rare or obscure works, the Cinematheque is a necessity.” Craig Takeuchi, The Georgia Straight

“Cinémathèques now take on a job parallel to what museums do with painting and sculpture.  They assemble, sort, analyze and exhibit the culture of the world.”  Robert Fulford, The Globe & Mail