#Venezia72 Check No. 10 - The Canadian

The last check of the Venice series is about a Canadian director that of course I'm familiar with but not really enjoy much, so let's see what's all the fuzz and buzz about his latest opus that opens in Venezia72 competition.

Atom Egoyan

Born on July 19, 1960 in Cairo, Egypt to Armenian parents. His family moved to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada when he was two-years-old. At the age of 18, Atom Egoyan went on to pursue his academic interests at Trinity College at The University of Toronto. His undergraduate studies focuses on International Relations. In college Atom created a short film, Howard in Particular (1979), which was funded by the Hart House Program.

Became known with Next of Kin (1984). Family Viewing (1987) and The Adjuster (1991) were presented at international festivals and attracted the interest of critics. Following Exotica (1994), Prix Fipresci, his work was consecrated at the Festival de Cannes when he won the Grand Prix for The Sweet Hereafter (1997). Felicia�s Journey (1999), Where the Truth Lies (2005) and Adoration (2008) were all selected to appear in Competition. His work has also earned him two Academy Award nominations and eight Canadian prizes.

His interest in music has also seen him staging opera: his Walkyrie by Wagner, for the Canadian Opera Company, won a prize in 2006. For theatre too, his Eh Joe by Beckett, which was presented in Dublin and then in London�s West End, won an Award for Best Direction. Moreover, Atom Egoyan has created art installations that have been presented at the Venice Biennale or Artangel in London.

In 2015 he receives the Lifetime Artistic Achievement that recognizes artists for their outstanding body of work and enduring contribution to the performing arts in Canada. Mr. Egoyan has served on international juries for the Cannes, Berlin, Venice and Toronto film festivals. He is currently a distinguished scholar in residence at Toronto�s Ryerson University after several years in a similar position at the University of Toronto, and teaches at the European Graduate School in Switzerland. Also he is an Officer of the Order of Canada (1999) and a Chevalier de l�Ordre des Arts et des Lettres de la France. Other distinctions include the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, Dan David Prize for Creative Rendering of the Past, and honorary doctorates from 10 Canadian universities.

If you wish to read a more detailed bio of the director I suggest you go to his official site here.

No doubt that Egoyan is a very accomplished individual in many artistic forms and after this exercise he absolutely calls my attention and wish to learn more about what he has done, is doing, will do in other arts, as what he does in cinema hasn't been of my liking lately.

I have no expectations about Remember as besides performances by great actors and an interesting story I have no idea if will enjoy or not his film.

Basic info about Remember
Director: Atom Egoyan
Writer: Benjamin August
Language: English
Runtime: 95 mins
Production Countries: Canada and Germany
Production Companies: Serendipity Point Films, Distant Horizon, Detalle Films, Egoli Tossell Film GmbH,
Distribution: A24 (USA), IM Global (International Sales)

Cast: Christopher Plummer, Martin Landau, Bruno Ganz, Jurgen Prochnow

Plot Summary
Remember is the contemporary story of Zev, who discovers that the Nazi guard who murdered his family some 70 years ago is living in America under an assumed identity. Despite the obvious challenges, Zev sets out on a mission to deliver long-delayed justice with his own trembling hand. What follows is a remarkable cross-continent road-trip with surprising consequences.