Segal Centre’s CinemaSpace to host screenings of restored version of Lies My Father Told Me

"We are filled with pride at this opportunity to host the first public screenings of this restored film classic," said Bryna Wasserman, the Segal Centre’s Artistic Director. "Lies My Father Told Me is one of the great Canadian films. It is remembered as a milestone in Canadian cinema."

Also sharing his thoughts was Harry Gulkin, co-producer of the film. “It gives me so much pleasure to be able to share this wonderfully restored classic, Montreal-made Canadian film on DVD. I know that new audiences will receive it with the same joy and enthusiasm that greeted it when it was first released thirty five years ago.” Gulkin is

a Montreal native and winner of the 2008 Canadian Academy of Cinema and Television Life Achievement Award. He served as Executive Director of the Centre (when it was the Saidye Bronfman Centre). On the DVD, Gulkin recounts some of his recollections about the making of the film. Gulkin will also be on hand during the film’s screenings in CinemaSpace for Q&A sessions.

Lies My Father Told Me is a heartwarming, Canadian classic. Set in 1920s Montreal, it recounts a slice of the Montreal Jewish immigrant experience. This sensitive, intelligently written drama focuses on a loving relationship between a six-year-old boy and his Orthodox “story-teller” grandfather. The screenplay by eminent writer/playwright Ted Allan is based on his autobiographical short story, Lies My Father Told Me.

The film was directed by Academy Award-winning Czech filmmaker Ján Kadár (“The Shop on Main Street”). Lies My Father Told Me was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and it won the 1976 Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film. Jeffrey Lynas who played young David was nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Supporting Actor. It won six Canadian Film Awards (today’s Genies) in 1976. The film stars Len Birman, Marilyn Lightstone, Jeffrey Lynas, and Yossi Yadin, with the screenwriter himself playing the role of a revolutionary tailor.

That the launch of the DVD is taking place at the Segal Centre is most appropriate. Indeed, in 1984 Dora Wasserman collaborated with Ted Allan to adapt his short story into a Yiddish production at the Centre. Allan played the role of narrator. Twenty years later, Bryna Wasserman successfully adapted the play into a musical, also at the Centre.

The film was restored by Gerry and Hila Feil.

Q&A after all screenings with the film’s co-producer, Harry Gulkin

Screenings:Tuesday, January 26th, 7pm, Wednesday, January 27th, 7pm.

Tickets can be purchased at the Segal Centre Box Office, 514-739-7944. $8/$6 students and seniors 65+. Seating is limited.

Address: CinemaSpace at the The Segal Centre for Performing Arts, 5170 Côte-Ste-Catherine (corner Westbury, 2 blocks west of metro Côte-Ste-Catherine)

This heart-warming film set in the 1920’s Jewish immigrant community of Montreal is a story seen primarily through the eyes of David, the grandson. David lives with his Canadian-born parents, his Grandfather Zaida, a junk peddler who emigrated from Russia, and Zaida’s aging horse, Ferdeleh. David’s father is a modern materialistic man of science who dreams of striking it rich by designing unique inventions. Zaida, on the other hand, is a humble man who works hard for his living and patiently awaits the arrival of the Messiah. Intuitively, David responds to his grandfather’s love. Every Sunday, David travels the back alleys of author Ted Allan’s Montreal with Zaida and his horse Ferdeleh and carriage. Zaida answers all of David’s questions about the world in terms of the Creator and the miracles that he performs. But this winter there are no miracles to spare David the pains of growing up.