There's a new arts movement in town, and their first order of business is to bring quality cinema to Squamish screens.
The Media Arts Society of Squamish (MASS) is a non-profit society of six members founded last July to support media artists in the Sea to Sky Corridor who are working in film, video, audio and new media, according to director Angela Heck.
"We're aiming to foster and fortify the culture and business of independent media arts by providing professional development opportunities, facilitating projects, and promoting public awareness of media arts through a variety of events and initiatives."
The first introduction locals may get to the new group is through its MASS Cinema initiative, a monthly film screening series of the best in Canadian and world cinema at the Squamish Adventure Centre.
The group's first screening on Thursday (Sept. 24) is Canada's 2009 Academy Award nominee Necessities of Life. The film is set in 1952 as an Inuit hunter named Tivii with tuberculosis leaves his northern home and family to go recuperate at a sanatorium in Quebec City. Uprooted, far from his loved ones, unable to speak French and faced with a completely alien world, he becomes despondent.
When he refuses to eat and expresses a wish to die, his nurse, Carole, comes to the realization that Tivii's illness is not the most serious threat to his well-being. She arranges to have a young orphan, Kaki, transferred to the institution. The boy is also sick, but has experience with both worlds and speaks both languages.
By sharing his culture with Kaki and opening it up to others, Tivii rediscovers his pride and energy. Ultimately he also rediscovers hope through a plan to adopt Kaki, bring him home and make him part of his family.
The film will be screened at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door, with season tickets $54 available on-line until Oct. 29.
Presented in partnership with the Toronto International Film Festival's Film Circuit, the MASS Cinema initiative is the first of many, said Heck.
For more info about MASS go to www.mediaartssquamish.com.
