As a cinephile with over three decades of immersion in the world of cinema, I find myself consistently captivated by the intriguing stories that unfold behind the scenes as much as those presented on screen. The recent announcement of Totem Films acquiring worldwide distribution rights for “Measures for a Funeral,” directed by Sofia Bohdanowicz, is one such instance that has piqued my curiosity.
In preparation for its global debut at the Toronto Film Festival’s Spotlight section, Paris-based Totem Films has secured the distribution rights for “Measures for a Funeral,” a film by Canadian director Sofia Bohdanowicz, with the exception of Canada itself.
Margot Hervée, who oversees sales and acquisitions at Totem, was previously introduced to Bohdanowicz’s work a few years back. She expressed that it struck a chord with her instantly. “We are delighted to welcome her into the Totem family now,” she shared with EbMaster, “and to promote her most recent film.”
Vortex Media is the film’s Canadian distributor.
Today’s unveiling sees Totem revealing a preliminary glimpse of “Measures” to EbMaster, starring Deragh Campbell as Audrey Benac – a character portrayed as a family detective in past films by Bohdanowicz. This role was previously seen in the feature film “MS Slavic 7,” which debuted in Berlin in 2019 and was also shown in Toronto.
The movie “Measures,” filmed in Canada, the U.K., and Norway, was awarded Kodak and Silveryway at FIDMarseille’s co-production lab in 2020. This film narrates the journey of graduate student Audrey, who uncovers a forgotten concerto dedicated to Kathleen Parlow, a remarkable Canadian violin prodigy from the late 1800s and early 1900s, within her university’s music department archives, and then proceeds to delve into Parlow’s true story.
Tormented by recollections of her late mother’s unrealized artistic aspirations connected with Parlow’s masterpiece, Audrey endeavors to revive its glory by staging an extensive production of the work.
Bohdanowicz shared with EbMaster last week that she had always known about Parlow due to her legendary status within their family. “Parlow was my grandfather’s mentor, who held a significant position in the Toronto Symphony as second fiddle,” she said. “My earliest concert memories involve sitting in Roy Thomson Hall and watching my grandfather perform.”
In 2016, Bohdanowicz came across an article in the Toronto Star regarding the unearthing of Parlow’s handwritten score for Opus 28, a composition from 1909 by Norwegian composer Johan Halvorsen. This piece was dedicated to Parlow and she had performed it when she was eighteen in Holland; after that, it vanished and was considered lost until 2016, appearing in significant music reference books as such.
“Immediately, Bohdanowicz headed to the library to examine the manuscript. Later, upon hearing the composition played by the Malmo Symphony in Norway, he was astounded and sought out a recording. While delving into the archive, he frequently inquired about potential performances of the piece in Canada.”
“She mentioned that the uncertainty or disregard for the song seemed to spark her desire to perform it instead.”
The Parlow archive serves as an abundant source of photographs, scraps of paper, and diaries, providing intricate details beyond what’s shown in the movie script and visuals. As Bohdanowicz explains, “The film merely hints at the depth of information.”
In the movie, a notable moment is the comeback to the cinema – particularly its audio system – of renowned Canadian singer Mary Margaret O’Hara (famous for her 1988 album Miss America). She lends her voice to the character Kathleen Parlow. As Bohdanowicz explained, “She is an incredibly intuitive artist with a remarkable talent for improvisation. Her voice is uniquely hers, with a warm tone that carries a haunting quality.”
The film culminates in a live concert of Opus 28 in Montreal performed by the Orchestre Métropolitain and world-renowned Spanish violinist María Dueñas Fernández, who both performs the work and plays the character of the young violinist. Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin — who has recently worked with Chloe Robichaud on her Toronto-premiering “Days of Happiness” and with Bradley Cooper on “Maestro” — also does double duty as conductor and actor.
“Funeral Arrangements” is a production by Aonan Yang and Andrea Mendritzki from Montreal’s GreenGround Productions (Denis Côté’s “Social Hygiene” and “Wilcox”), in collaboration with Bohdanowicz, and jointly produced by Priscilla Galvez.
Adding “Measures” to the lineup of Totem’s 2023 film roster also includes “The Village Next to Paradise,” directed by Mo Harawe, which had its premiere at Cannes; “My Favourite Cake,” directed by Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, which was shown at Berlinale; as well as “Crossing” directed by Levan Akin, and “The Silent Trilogy” directed by Juho Kuosmanen.
As I find myself immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of the Toronto Film Festival this coming Saturday, September 7th, I’m eagerly anticipating the world premiere of “Measures for a Funeral.” This film promises to be an intriguing and moving experience that I can’t wait to share with fellow cinephiles.
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2024-08-27 20:17