In 1987, Rozema quickly rose
to prominence with the brilliant success of her debut feature film I'VE
HEARD THE MERMAIDS SINGING, which she wrote, co-produced with Alex Raffé,
directed and edited. A highly idiosyncratic but effortlessly fresh film
featuring a standout performance by Shelia McCarthy, it struck a chord
with audiences around the world and cemented Rozema's reputation as a
talent to watch. I'VE HEARD THE MERMAIDS SINGING was selected for the
prestigious Director's Fortnight in Cannes and won the coveted Prix de
la Jeunesse (other winners have been Spike Lee's "She's Gotta Have
It," Don McKellar's "Last Night," as well as
"Strictly Ballroom," "Man Bites Dog"). The film was
sold and released theatrically almost immediately in 37 countries
(Miramax in the US) and went on to receive 17 awards in various
countries including Canada, France, Belgium, Sweden and Spain.
"Variety" described the film as "bursting with confidence
with Rozema in full control every step of the way" and "The
Guardian" in England listed her as one of that year's international
"Ten to Watch." The "Sydney Herald" spoke of her
"quiet assault on notions of orthodoxy," the "New York
Times" spoke of the film's "elegance and intelligence,"
and Judith Christ described it as a film "so fresh, so funny it
amazes the heart." It is one of Canada's most successful films ever
-- critically and commercially and was voted by one hundred
international critics and filmmakers as one of Canada's ten best films
ever.
With her darker more ambitious second
feature, WHITE ROOM, Rozema expanded her writing/directing canvas and
explored new thematic and visual terrain. Featuring a stellar cast,
including the Academy Award nominated actress Kate Nelligan, Maurice
Godin, Sheila McCarthy and Margot Kidder, WHITE ROOM opened the
Perspectives Canada section of the Toronto Festival of Festivals. One
"Film Comment" critic listed it as one of the "Year's 10
Best." It has received 4 prizes in France, Sweden and Japan and
three Genie (Canadian) nominations. The French newspaper "Libération"
spoke of its "impeccable structure" and "sweet madness à
la Buñuel." The "Washington Post" described it as
"a suburban gothic fairy tale, a work of dark, conflicted magic
that might have been cut from 'Blue Velvet' by Edward Scissorhands,"
and went on to praise it as "rich in style, texture and
theme."
In the fall of 1991, Rozema completed the
20 minute film "DESPERANTO" an innovative and humorous
contribution to the compilation feature "Montreal Vu Par..."
(or "Montreal Stories") by six of Canada's top directors
including Denys Arcand and Atom Egoyan. Her witty treatment of subtitles
that come to life was described by a "Montreal Gazette" critic
as "pure poetry."
In spring 1995, she wrote and directed an
original feature entitled WHEN NIGHT IS FALLING, that combines the
breezy wit, lyricism and romanticism of Rozema's first feature film,
with the visual poetry and emotional resonance of her second. An
affecting and moving love story, it charts the sexual awakening of a
female Christian academic as she falls in love with another woman, a
flamboyant performer in a surrealist circus. The love triangle that
involved two women and a man was the subject of some controversy in the
US as the film was given a NC17 rating by the MPAA. It was described as
"irresistible whatever the orientation of the spectator" and
"absolutely beautiful" by the "Village Voice", and
invited to the Official Competition at the Berlin Film Festival where it
won the first of a remarkable number of Most Popular film awards around
the world. It won Best Film at the Melbourne Film Festival and Most
Popular at the Sydney Film Fest. It was honoured with prizes at the
Films des Femmes du Creteil, France, (where it was recently voted one of
the top 20 women's films of all time) and won first prize at several gay
and lesbian festivals: London G & L Festival, Outfest in Los
Angeles, Chicago G & L Festival, and Washington G&L Festival
among others. WHEN NIGHT IS FALLING, which was released theatrically in
42 countries, was in the top ten in Germany for 6 weeks and had the
highest per screen average when released in France. It was also released
very successfully in the US by October Films. In 1995 Rozema also
Executived Produced John L'Ecuyer's "Curtis' Charm".
In December '96, Rozema adapted and
directed a short film for an anthology series executive produced by Tony
and Ridley Scott called "The Hunger." That same year she also
wrote and presented an original story for Nik Sheehan's film
"Symposium: Ladder of Love" entitled "The Shape I
Think".
In spring/summer of '97 Rozema wrote and
directed the one hour Primetime Emmy Award winning SIX GESTURES inspired
by the Bach cello suites (for the "Yo-Yo Ma: Inspired by Bach"
series produced by Rhombus Media) with Yo-Yo Ma and Torville and Dean
and composer Lesley Barber (composer for "When Night is
Falling" and "Mansfield Park"). Other directors in the
series were Atom Egoyan ("The Sweet Hereafter") François
Girard ("Thirty-Two Short Films About Glen Gould" and
"The Red Violin"). SIX GESTURES was awarded the Golden Rose in
Montreux, Switzerland and was also invited to the Venice Film Festival.
That same year, Rozema received the "Crystal Award for Outstanding
Achievement" from Women in Film and Television (WIFT).
In 1999, Rozema completed writing and
directing the Miramax/HAL production of MANSFIELD PARK. Adapted from
Jane Austen's novel, as well as her journals and letters, Rozema has
created a brilliant adaptation of a novel that many have considered
impossible to transfer to the screen. MANSFIELD PARK opened the 1999
World Film Festival in Montreal, the Chicago Film Festival, the Mill
Valley Film Festival in San Francisco and was also featured as a Special
Presentation at the 1999 Toronto International Film Festival. MANSFIELD
PARK won the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the Women in Cinema
Film Festival in Seattle where it opened the festival. Talk Miramax
Books has published Rozema's script adaptation of MANSFIELD PARK, and
Rozema will continue her creative relationship with Miramax Films for
two more projects.
Rozema has recently completed a filmed
version of Samuel Beckett's play HAPPY DAYS for "The Beckett Film
Project" (other directors involved in the project include David
Mamet, Neil Jordan, Anthony Minghella and Atom Egoyan). The film was
presented at the Venice Film Festival and the Toronto International Film
Festival. NOW Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, and THE NEW YORK
TIMES all voted "The Beckett Film Project" as one of the 10
best DVD releases of 2002. Rozema has also written and directed an
original short film entitled THIS MIGHT BE GOOD in honour of the 25th
anniversary of the Toronto International Film Festival. The film is part
of the "Prelude" series in which ten of Canada's pre-eminent
filmmakers were asked to create short films in honour of the festival's
anniversary. Produced by Rhombus Media, THIS MIGHT BE GOOD stars Sarah
Polley and Don McKellar. Rozema also just Executive Produced A
WRINKLE IN TIME for Miramax, which has been adapted by Madeleine
L'engels award winning novel.
I'VE HEARD THE MERMAIDS SINGING, which
was recently voted as one of the top ten Canadian films of the century
by "Maclean's," has just celebrated its 15th anniversary and
is about to be re-released by Miramax. Alliance Atlantis has also
compiled a DVD collection of Rozema's features and shorts, which was
released in December 2002.
Brought To You By: Patriciaozema.com
