Guest Curator at the Vancouver Writers Fest this year, Kim Thúy, will join us for this special screening of Ru, based on her Governor General’s Award-winning novel. Ru is the story of the arduous journey of a wealthy family fleeing from Vietnam, before landing in Quebec and experiencing their first Canadian winter. Directed by Charles-Olivier Michaud, and produced by Thúy, the film is a sombre, stunningly beautiful examination of forced migration, isolation, and newfound belonging, told through the eyes of the daughter of the family, Nguyen An Tinh.
Following the screening, Thúy will engage in an on-stage discussion about this bold, penetrating work.
An incredibly beautiful film about resilience and survival and a truly uplifting watch.
James Mackin, Toronto City News
Canadian director Charles-Olivier Michaud finds the warmth and humour in everything from a stepdance welcome in a community gym to the healing magic of maple taffy made on fresh snow […] Michaud chooses not to tell this story through a lot of dialogue, but rather through imagery and often achingly beautiful visual details.
Janet Smith, Stir
Tender, lovely… a love letter to Canadians.
Liza Braun, Original Cin
Presented with
Kim Thúy
Charles-Olivier Michaud
Chloé Djandji, Chantal Thuy, Jean Bui, Olivier Dinh, Xavier Nguyen, Patrice Robitaille
Canada
2023
In Vietnamese and French with English subtitles
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Credits
Screenwriter
Jacques Davidts
Cinematography
Jean-François Lord
Editor
Claude Palardy
Original Music
Michel Corriveau
Production Design
Marie-Hélène Lavoie
Catch More Special Events at VIFF Centre
Vince Mai Plays Chet Baker + Bruce Weber's Let's Get Lost
A set of smooth, sublime, and smoky jazz from trumpeter Vince Mai backed up by a stellar band with Steve Maddock on vocals. Followed by the first local screening of Bruce Weber's recently restored film about Baker, one of the essential films about jazz.
Brandon Wint: Moving For Love – An Evening of Film, Poetry & Music
Poet and filmmaker Brandon Wint presents two new short films, Moving for Love and Backbone, alongside a live jazz performance with collaborators Feven Kidane, Yoro Noukoussi, and Quincey Mayes, and a poetry reading.
A Tribute to Artie Shaw + Time Is All You've Got Screening
James Danderfer leads an all-star band in a tribute show to "the King of the Clarinet", Artie Shaw. Followed by a screening of the Academy Award-winning documentary, Artie Shaw: Time Is All You've Got, a candid profile of this multi-talented artist.
Food Bank Benefit Screening: Hundreds of Beavers
The funniest, and certainly the furriest movie you will see this year, Hundreds of Beavers channels the zany slapstick shtick of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and Bugs Bunny through a videogame quest narrative to retell the eternal saga of Man v Nature. All proceeds from this screening go to the Vancouver Food Bank.
Hollywood Harmonies for the Holidays with Michael van den Bos
Here's a stocking stuffer of a sensational show to put a song in your heart and a dance in your step for the holidays. Classic film scholar Michael van den Bos is your ho-ho-host of merry musical moments from a wide variety of classic films.