Illuminated Texts

"Elder’s work is without equal in the history of cinema. At a time when nearly all cultural statements partake of the moral and cultural relativism of the post-modern experience, in his films as in his writings, Elder champions and recreates with extreme courage the profound questionings of the European philosophical tradition. In this way his work is intensely Canadian.” - Peter Harcourt

In recognition of R. Bruce Elder’s Governor General’s Award for Media Arts in 2007 and contributions to experimental cinema, Cinematheque Ontario’sThe Free Screen presents Elder’s THE BOOK OF ALL THE DEAD, not seen in its entirety in Toronto in more than a decade.  Gathering films made between 1975 and 1994, the 42-hour-long compilation may be the most ambitious work in its medium.
Co-presented with Ryerson University, the Images Festival, and the CFMDC, screenings run between January 23 and March 12 at Cinematheque Ontario.

“The Book of All Dead...is not a version of Dante (or of Pound) but a demonstration of the endurance of a particular pattern of intelligence...concerning a journey to the place of the dead and a visit with ancient bards...A work like Pound’s Cantos and I hope, my own Book of All Dead, manifests the co-existence of works in this higher Order of Things and the co-presence of all such works even in the intelligence of our miserably destitute times. This is a reason for thanksgiving.” - R. Bruce Elder

Cinematheque Ontario will be screening new prints of SWEET LOVE REMEMBERED on Jan. 23 and ILLUMINATED TEXTS on Jan. 24. Both are from Part One: The System of Dante’s Hell.

Cinematheque Ontario presents R. Bruce Elder’s THE BOOK OF ALL THE DEAD

Wednesday January 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Part One: The System of Dante’s Hell
BREATH/LIGHT/BIRTH (1975) 6 minutes
SWEET LOVE REMEMBERED (1980) 14 minutes
THE ART OF WORLDLY WISDOM (1979) 55 minutes
TRACE (1980) 1 minute
PERMUTATIONS AND COMBINATIONS (1976) 8 minutes
1857 (FOOL’S GOLD) (1981) 25 minutes
LOOK! WE HAVE COME THROUGH! (1978) 12 minutes

Thursday January 24 at 7:30 p.m.
ILLUMINATED TEXTS (1982) 180 minutes

Thursday February 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Lamentations: A Monument to the Dead World
PART 1: THE DREAM OF THE LAST HISTORIAN (1985) 195 minutes
SHE IS AWAY (1976) 13 minutes

Sunday February 10 at 5 p.m.
Lamentations: A Monument to the Dead World
PART 2: THE SUBLIME CALCULATION (1985) 240 minutes
BARBARA IS A VISION OF LOVELINESS (1976) 8 minutes

Wednesday February 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Part Two: Consolations (Love Is An Art of Time)
PART 1: THE FUGITIVE GODS (1988) 256 minutes

Sunday February 17 at 4:45 p.m.
PART 2: THE LIGHTED CLEARING (1988) 275 minutes

Wednesday February 20 at 7:30 p.m.
PART 3: THE BODY AND THE WORLD (1988) 272 minutes

Saturday February 23 at 9:15 p.m.
Part Three: Exultations (In Light of the Great Giving)
FLESH ANGELS (1990) 110 minutes

Friday February 29 at 9:30 p.m.
NEWTON AND ME (1990) 110 minutes

Saturday March 1 at 9:30 p.m.
AZURE SERENE (MOUNTAINS, RIVERS, SEA AND SKY) (1992) 115 minutes

Sunday March 2 at 4:30 p.m.
EXULTATIONS: IN LIGHT OF THE GREAT GIVING (1993) 90 minutes

Thursday March 6 at 7:30 p.m.
BURYING THE DEAD: INTO THE LIGHT (1993) 90 minutes

Wednesday March 12 at 7:30 p.m.
ET RESURRECTUS EST (1994) 135 minutes

All Cinematheque Ontario screenings are held at the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Jackman Hall, 317 Dundas St. West (McCaul Street entrance), Toronto.  Regular tickets are $5.90 for members and $10.14 for non-members.  Limited Runs and Special Presentations are $7.08 for members and $11.56 for non-members.  Prices do not include GST, building fund fee or service charges.

Members advance tickets on sale now.  Non-members may purchase tickets for any screening starting January 15.  Films playing at Cinematheque Ontario that have not been rated by the Ontario Film Review Board are restricted to individuals 18 years of age or older.  The Toronto International Film Festival Group Box Office is located at Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor Street West (street level, north entrance, open Monday to Saturday, 10am b 6pm), or call 416-968-FILM or 1-877-968-FILM.