What’s on in Ottawa and beyond

This is an expanded version of the story that appeared in the print version of the March 2022 BUZZ, which had to be cut for space.

Tony Wohlfarth

Cinemas are open and we review a film that recently screened in Ottawa. The arrival of spring sees a new exhibition of Impressionist art at the National Gallery of Canada. The Canadian Museum of Nature is open and welcomes a new child-focused aquarium to its offerings just in time for March Break.

Parallel Mothers

At age 72, Pedro Almodovar is one of Spain’s most celebrated filmmakers. His latest film, Parallel Mothers, is a fascinating tale of motherhood and memory set in Madrid. It stars Penelope Cruz as Janis, a 40-year-old photographer, who yearns to have a child as she works behind the scenes to unearth the grave of her great-grandfather‒murdered and left in one of hundreds of mass graves by the Franco regime. In hospital, Janis shares a room with Ana (Milena Smit) and the two mothers form an enduring bond.

Parallel Mothers had its world premiere at the 2021 Venice Film Festival. The film is nominated for two Academy Awards: best leading actress (Cruz) and best original musical score. Running time: 2h3m. Spanish with English subtitles. (Highly recommended)

National Gallery of Canada

The NGC opened a fascinating exhibition of more than 100 pieces of Canadian Impressionist art on February 26. It is on display until July 3 on a tour that began in Germany and has been seen in both France and Switzerland.

There are 108 works by 36 men and women Impressionists in this exhibition, including several paintings by Group of Seven artists (A.Y. Jackson, Lawren Harris) and by Emily Carr. Senior curator Katerina Atanassova explained that these artists also trained in Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

To prepare for your visit, I would suggest downloading the online audio guide. It provides valuable information about the artists with 14 stops in the two rooms of original art. The NGC boutique also has am illustrated guidebook to the collection.

Canadian Museum of Nature

The BUZZ previewed a new installation‒the Pacific Discovery Tank‒at the museum just in time for March Break. The tank is a 1,000-litre saltwater aquarium on the second floor of the Victoria Museum. It’s a child friendly display of anemones, sea cucumbers, and spiky urchins, illustrating tide pools in the Pacific Ocean.

The museum is also honouring Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee this year with a special display of how her reign has been celebrated in Canadian coins, banknotes and postage stamps. Adding a scientific angle, the exhibit also includes samples of refined platinum and different minerals containing platinum.

The exhibit is housed in the museum’s glass tower, named the Queen’s Lantern in honour of both Elizabeth II and her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, after whom the Victoria Memorial Museum is named. The Queen was present for the official unveiling of the Lantern in 2010.

I also recommend Shadowland, 15 sketches of skeletal remains of polar bears, bison, and narwhals, by Montreal artist Lorraine Simms, on display until April 18.

2022 Berlinale

The 72nd Berlin International Film Festival was the first in-person film festival since the pandemic and The BUZZ was there.

Against the Ice

In 1906, Denmark supported two Arctic expeditions to the far north. The first was a failure and support for another expedition waned. The second in 1909 was a two-person expedition to explore Greenland via dog sled and is the subject of a compelling feature-length film (filmed in 2019) which had its world premiere in Berlin and is now streaming via Netflix.

The geopolitical significance of the expedition was legendary. The United States was making territorial claims over the Arctic and Denmark needed to confirm that Greenland was a single land mass.

The cinematography in Against the Ice is stunning and the re-creation of the two-year journey is riveting and compelling. To survive, the explorers faced polar bears, starvation and extreme weather. The producer formed an early partnership with Netflix to make a highly entertaining film. Running time: 1h42m.

IFFO

The International Film Festival of Ottawa (IFFO) is currently underway until March 20, offering 27 feature-length and short films. See www.iffo.ca/2022/schedule

Live Music

The National Arts Centre (1 Elgin) has returned to live music performances. Of particular note: The Women in Music and the Arts Conference on March 23-24; a limited number of free passes to the panel sessions and concerts are available. Two evening concerts ($20) will spotlight up-and-coming performers: (March 23) Eliana Cuevas, Edra Silva, LAL featuring Rosina Kazi; (March 24) Turkwaz, iskwē, Zaki Ibrahim. See nac-cna.ca

Queen Street Fare (170 Queen near Bank) has re-opened with live music. See queenstfare.ca/happening. Check out jazz vocalist Martine Courage on March 30.

Live on Elgin (220 Elgin) will feature local vocalist/bassist Angelique Francis on March 19 and soul band The Commotions on March 27.

On March 25, the Montgomery Scotch Lounge’s jazz night with Peter Hum, David Smith, Chris Pond, and Valeriy Nehovora will donate at least half the ticket sales to UNHCR for Ukrainian refugees (750 Gladstone).

And the Oscar Goes to . . .

You can watch the 2022 Academy Awards live at the Mayfair Theatre (1074 Bank) on March 27. Admission is free with an annual membership ($14).

Out of Town

2022 Hot Docs Film Festival, Toronto

The best of documentary films from around the world can be seen at the 2022 Hot Docs Film Festival April 28 to May 6. Ticket packages are now on sale at: www.hotdocs.ca/#hot-docs-festival.

Tony Wohlfarth is an Ottawa-based freelance film and entertainment writer. He covered the 72nd Berlinale in February and screened Parallel Mothers courtesy of the Mayfair Theatre.