Red Shoes movie still

Each month, Melanie Friesen invites a distinguished guest to Vancity Theatre’s Cinema Salon, in order to present his/her favourite film. After the screening, both audience and speaker have the opportunity to engage over drinks and snacks in the Vancity lounge. This month’s film is The Red Shoes.

Red Shoes movie still

Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s 1845 story, The Red Shoes, beautiful and talented Vicky is hired by the top impresario of the day, Lermontov, to dance in his company. She can now realize the full potential of her talent, but at the price of utter devotion to her art and total loyalty to Lermontov. While she flourishes under his obsessive guidance, she falls in love with a composer and is forced to choose her destiny.

Shot on location in 1947 in Technicolor at The Royal Opera House in London, The Opéra National de Paris, The Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo, and The Monte Carlo railway station, we see a London, Paris and Monte Carlo long gone — but still spectacular on screen.

Alma Lee

This month’s Cinema Salon is hosted by Alma Lee, the founding Artistic Director of the Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival; one of Vancouver’s most prestigious cultural events.

Lee is the founding Executive Director of both The Writers’ Union of Canada and The Writers’ Trust of Canada. Ms. Lee was inducted into the Order of Canada, is a YWCA Woman of Distinction, and has received an honorary degree from Simon Fraser University.

She is also a recent recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal. Alma left the Writers Festival in December 2005 and is currently involved in new challenges.

Vancity Cinema Salon with Alma Lee Presents The Red Shoes
Date: Tuesday, July 3, 7:30 pm
Venue: Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $13.00; may be purchased online

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