What’s on in Ottawa and beyond this month

Tony Wohlfarth

The 2024 Golden Globes were awarded on January 9. This summer’s epic Oppenheimer received five Golden Globes including best picture.

This month, I review The Teachers Lounge, nominated by Germany for an Academy Award in the best foreign language category, and highlight two recent documentaries on homelessness. I also highlight some great live events this month.

The Teachers Lounge

Carla Nowak (Leonie Benesch) is a sports and math teacher in her first position in a local high school. When a series of thefts of cell phones and other valuables occur at the school, Nowak tries to get to the bottom of the crime. The idealistic teacher is immersed in a war of words between outraged parents and strongly opinionated colleagues. The conflict which ensues threatens to subsume the young teacher.

The Teachers Lounge is directed by Iger Catak. Filmed in Bavaria, the camera work by Judith Kaufmann is electrifying. The emotions are raw and the tensions palpable. I loved this film when I saw it in Berlin and highly recommend it.

The film is screening at the ByTowne Cinema (325 Rideau Street) beginning on January 26. In German with English subtitles. Running time: 1h35m.

Hotel Mokum

Take Back Amsterdam is the name of a group of housing activists in Holland’s largest and most expensive city. In 2021, the group occupied a vacant hotel and renamed it Hotel Mokum to underscore the need for affordable housing.

Directed by Yannesh Meijman, Hotel Mokum reveals both the complexity of social organizing and its challenges. I found the question it poses, Does Amsterdam need another hotel?, compelling. Running time: 30m.

Squats are all too common. You can see others across Europe at en.squat.net/2021/10/16/amsterdam-take-back-mokum-hotel-marnix-squatted/

Someone Lives Here

At the 2023 Hot Docs Film Festival, Someone Lives Here won the Audience Choice Award for best picture. It tells the story of a socially conscious carpenter, Khaleel Seivwright, who builds boxes that can be used to house the unhoused.

He relied on a GoFundMe campaign to raise $100,000 for supplies. I loved the simplicity of his solution to the housing crisis in Toronto and was disturbed by civil officials’ response. Running time: 1h15m.

National Arts Centre (1 Elgin St.)

The NAC stages offer a dazzling array of live performances this month:

• Jan. 19: Innu group Maten;
• Jan. 20: Classic Albums Live: The Eagles-Hotel California;
• Jan. 21: National Ballet of Ukraine;
• Feb. 3: Montreal-based Haitian musician Waahli;
• Feb. 8: Franco-Japanese singer Maia Barouh;
• Feb. 9: Manitoba’s William Prince

Bronson Centre (211 Bronson Ave.)

Bronson Centre is the place to be on January 20 for the Commotions Album Release Party. The Commotions are a 12-piece soul band featuring many well-known Ottawa musicians.

Tickets available at: www.ticketweb.ca

Live on Elgin (220 Elgin St.)

From January 17-20, Live on Elgin presents the play, “Danny and The Deep Blue Sea.” For tickets and show-times, check out: www.liveonelgin.com

Montgomery Scotch Lounge (750 Gladstone)

On January 19, baritone saxophonist Richard Page and his Joyful Resonance Quartet will perform Richard’s jazz originals blending New Orleans, calypso, and music that grooves from all over the world.

On January 20, hear modern Latin jazz from Pimienta; and on January 26, three Ottawa jazz instrumentalists (bassist Marc Decho, pianist Deniz Lim-Sersan, and drummer Stephen Adubofuor) play together for the first time in an experimental jazz project.

Redbird Live (1165 Bank St.)

These sold-out shows are worth seeing online: January 19: Jim Bryson, and January 28: the Tom Wilson Trio.

Gladstone Theatre (910 Gladstone)

The musical “Just Say the Word” is playing from January 31-February 3. For tickets, contact: boxoffice@thegladstone.ca.

Out of Town

A new documentary about country singer June Carter Cash (author of the song “Ring of Fire”) will be available shortly for screening on Paramount+.

June premiered in Toronto this month at the Hot Docs Cinema. It features never-before-seen archival material that reveals her extraordinary lifework and includes interviews with her, as well as family, admirers and friends, including Dolly Parton, Reese Witherspoon and Willie Nelson.

Ron Sexsmith turns 60 next month. To mark the occasion, he performs a birthday celebration and concert at Massey Hall on February 29. Tickets are on sale now at: masseyhall.mhrth.com/tickets/ron-sexsmith/

Tony Wohlfarth is an Ottawa-based freelance film and entertainment writer.