HANDEL WITH CARE
ATG’S NEW FILM BOUND TO RAISE TOUGH QUESTIONS
Four life stories that challenge Canada’s myth of belonging are tied together by themes in Handel’s enduring music, a stellar cast of voices and in partnership with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Crow’s Theatre.
BOUND uses a series of ripped-from-the-headlines interviews with four Canadian citizens from diverse backgrounds who have each had challenging—and remarkably different—journeys finding their place and voice in Canada as the starting point for this new piece.
These non-fiction narratives undergo their own transformation in the film—shape-shifting from interview segments exploring their lived experiences into melody and song with each storyteller being by a musical avatar.
The musical canvas that Lau has stretched here for the singers and orchestra will have opera fans recognizing a number of segments from Handel’s iconic operas, oratorios, and melodies—but if we were comparing this work, to say, a Baroque painting, what Lau does here is enjoy the freedom to move around his source material, zooming in and out—as if the composer is plucking out pixels from Handel’s music to sample from and riff off—creating something new in the musical journey, and enhanced by the electronic design of Toronto DJ ACOTE (Jeff-Antoine Côté).
Language: English (English Subtitles available)
Length: 82 Minutes
CONTENT WARNING:
***BOUND contains references to suicide, sexual abuse, violence, and discusses struggles of racial and gender identity, as well as mental health issues. It is intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.***