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Seven Veils

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Atom Egoyan has brought cinematic tropes to productions for the Canadian Opera Company since he first mounted Richard Strauss’s Salome in 1996 (a staging that’s been revived several times since). Here he brings Salome to the cinema with a typically layered, “Atom-ique” approach to the story of a young theatre director (Amanda Seyfried) tasked with remounting the opera according to the bequest of her late mentor and lover, whose original interpretation was inspired by her disturbing relationship with her father. “Seven Veils” is right: Egoyan’s movies are often structured as psychological striptease, revealing taboo and trauma through a fractured mirror of erotic connection, performance, confession and confrontation. In that sense this is unmistakably an Egoyan film — his critical reputation may ebb and flow but for all its high art trappings ultimately Seven Veils sits squarely beside the likes of Exotica and The Sweet Hereafter. That said, there are lashings of Strauss and Oscar Wilde here too, butting against very modern ideas around sexual propriety, abuse and catharsis.

Musical Introduction on October 4

We’re excited to welcome Vancouver Opera’s Head of Music Les Dala and soprano Tabitha Brasso-Ernst to provide a unique and musical introduction to Seven Veils at the October 4 screening. Les will give viewers an introduction to the word of opera and Richard Strauss’s Salome; then Tabita will perform a stunning musical excerpt from the opera with resplendent vocal fireworks.

 

October 1: Q&A with director Atom Egoyan

 

Atom Egoyan’s take on a familiar theme is so feverish that one can’t help being swept up in its mad vision.
Screen International

 

Presented by

Media Partner

Community Partner

Director
Cast

Amanda Seyfried, Douglas Smith, Mark O’Brien

Credits
Country of Origin

Canada

Year

2023

Series

Special Presentations

Language

English

Content Warning

Child Abuse

18+
107 min
Action & Suspense Art, Music & Photography Drama

Book Tickets

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Credits

Executive Producer

John Sloss, Noah Segal, Adrian Love, Nate Bolotin, Aram Tertzakian, Nick Spicer, Maxime Cottray

Producer

Atom Egoyan, Niv Fichman, Simone Urdl, Kevin Krikst, Fraser Ash

Screenwriter

Atom Egoyan

Cinematography

Paul Sarossy

Editor

David Wharnsby

Production Design

Phillip Barker

Original Music

Mychael Danna

Director

Atom Egoyan headshot

Photo by Ulyssedel Drago

Atom Egoyan

Atom Egoyan is one of the most celebrated contemporary filmmakers on the international scene. Egoyan has won numerous prizes at international film festivals including the Grand Prix and International Critics Awards from the Cannes Film Festival and two Academy Award® nominations. His films have won 25 Genies including three Best Film Awards. Atom has directed several operas on stage with the Canadian Opera Company, including Salome, Cosi fan tutti, and the Ring Cycle.

Filmography: Speaking Parts (1989), Exotica (1994), The Sweet Hereafter (1997), Chloe (2009), Remember (2016)

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