Saturday night’s lineup of Canadian films highlights the summer movie schedule on CBC-TV, beginning June 16
Canadians will experience the excitement of Canadian film—and see some of the best entertainment the industry has to offer—as CBC-TV’s Summer Saturday Movies kicks off on June 16 at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT) and runs through to Aug. 25.
Summer Saturday Movies showcases great Canadian films from emerging Canadian filmmakers, as well as from some of Canada’s best-known directors and stars. The Saturday series anchors a summer full of movies on CBC-TV, as blockbusters from around the world will air as part of CBC-TV’s Big Summer Movies throughout the season.
The Summer Saturday Movies lineup is:
Adoration (June 16 at 9 p.m./9:30 NT) Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Atom Egoyan and starring Arsinee Khanjian, Scott Speedman and Devon Bostic, Adoration is about our connections—with each other, with our family history and with the modern world. The film traces the unexpected impact a schoolroom translation exercise about a terrorist act has on one student, his family, and his personal journey toward self-discovery. Egoyan’s 12th feature film, Adoration was the winner of the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.
The Baby Formula (June 23) A family story for the modern age, The Baby Formula follows two women in love who are desperate to have their own biological child. Taking a chance on an experimental process that makes sperm from their own stem cells, their dreams of becoming the first women in the world to carry each other’s child come true—and then their families find out there is no father. Ripe with humour and unexpected twists, The Baby Formula is directed by Alison Reid and stars Angela Vint and Megan Fahlenbock.
The Trotsky (June 30) Directed by Jacob Tierney, The Trotsky stars Jay Baruchel as Leon Bronstein, a Montreal high school students who claims to be the reincarnation of Soviet iconoclast Leon Trotsky. Sent to public school as punishment, Bronstein attempts to live out his destiny to change the world—and brings new meaning to the term “student union” Also starring Colm Feore, Saul Rubinek, Anne-Marie Cadiux and Genevieve Bujold.
Love & Savagery (July 21) Set in late 1960s Ireland, Love & Savagery tells the tale of a visiting geologist from Newfoundland (Allan Hawco of Republic of Doyle) who touches off a scandal in a small village when he courts a young woman (Sarah Greene) destined for the nunnery. Directed by John N. Smith.
Cooking with Stella (July 28) A lighthearted social comedy about the culinary culture clash of two cultures, Cooking with Stella follows an unsuspecting couple (Don McKellar and Lisa Ray) in the Canadian Diplomatic Service who are posted to New Delhi, and inherit a household of Indian service staff headed by the wily, charming and totally inspiring cook, Stella (Seema Biswas). A tale of scams, cooking and important lessons that go beyond the kitchen.
Polytechnique (Aug. 4) Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Polytechnique is based on the tragic, real-life events that occurred on Dec. 6, 1989, when 25-year-old Marc Lepine walked through the doors of Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal and embarked on a mission to kill himself and as many women as possible. This ravaging story is told through the eyes of two students, Valérie (Karin Vanasse) and Jean-Francois (Sébastien Huberdeau), whose lives were forever changed by Lepine’s brutal attack. Also starring Évelyne Brochu and Maxim Gaudette.
Away From Her (Aug. 18) Winner of seven Genie awards, including Best Actor (Gordon Pinsent), Best Actress (Julie Christie), Best Director (Sarah Polley) and Best Picture, Away from Her is a love story about memory, loss and the circuitous paths of a 50-year marriage. Grant (Pinsent) and Fiona (Christie) appear to have a rock-solid commitment to each other. But when Fiona is diagnosed with Alzheimers disease and moves into a retirement home, that commitment is tested by loss, infidelity, and the complex, moving interplay of regret and redemption.
One Week (Aug. 25) Humorous, profound and extremely moving, One Week follows Ben Tyler (Joshua Jackson), a young man who is suddenly confronted with his own mortality. On an impulse, he buys a vintage motorcycle and embarks on a road trip from Toronto to Vancouver Island. Along the way, he discovers the beauty of his country—and in himself.
The blockbusters continue throughout the season with CBC-TV’s Big Summer Movies, as acclaimed movies will make regular appearances all summer long (all times 8 p.m./8:30 p.m. NT, unless otherwise noted):
Sunday, June 17: Wild Hogs, starring Tim Allen and Martin Lawrence
Sunday, June 24: Happy Gilmore, starring Adam Sandler
Sunday, July 8: The Bourne Ultimatum, starring Matt Damon
Sunday, July 22: Mission Impossible III, starring Tom Cruise
Sunday, July 29: The Devil Wears Prada, starring Meryl Streep
Sunday, Aug. 5: Mr. Bean’s Holiday, starring Rowan Atkinson
Sunday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m./7:30 NT: Pirates of the Caribbean II, starring Johnny Depp
Sunday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m./7:30 NT: Pirates of the Caribbean III, starring Johnny Depp
Sunday, Sept. 2: Alice in Wonderland, starring Johnny Depp
Saturday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m./9:30 NT: Capote, starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, plus seven languages for international audiences. In 2011, CBC/Radio-Canada celebrated 75 years of serving Canadians and being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of Canada.
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