SIX ISLAND PRODUCTIONS
 
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A WAKE
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Completed - ENGLISH - Black comedy - 85 minutes

Log Line

After the mysterious death of their infamous director, members of a renowned theatre company come together for his wake. The grieving widow welcomes the thespians to her country house, but the proceedings go awry when old rivalries and jealousies erupt, exposing a myriad of secrets and lies.

Previous markets

  • Toronto 2009 (Debut)
  • Cannes 2010 (Premiere)
  • Cannes 2011 (Line up)
Full history

Year of production : 2011

Director(s) : Penelope BUITENHUIS
Cast : Nicholas CAMPBELL, Martha BURNS, Graham ABBEY, Sarain BOYLAN, Tara NICODEMO, Raoul BHANEJA, Kris TURNER, Krista SUTTON

Producer(s) : Paul SCHERZER (Six Island Productions)

Synopsis

In this intense drama, six former members of a well-known theatre company assemble for their infamous director's wake. Gabor Zazlov (NICHOLAS CAMPBELL) has died suddenly. His grieving French widow, Hanna (TARA NICODEMO), welcomes the thespians to her country house but soon loses control of the proceedings when old rivalries and jealousies erupt. As members of Gabor's last ill-fated production of Hamlet four years ago, the characters they played continue to haunt their lives. Tyler (GRAHAM ABBEY) who played Laertes then Hamlet, is now a minor Hollywood star and secretly in love with Maya (KRISTA SUTTON), the quiet, new-agey Ophelia. Raj (RAOUL BHANEJA), now a successful real-estate agent, is still resentful of losing the part of Hamlet to Tyler. The unexpected arrival of Gabor's loafer son Chad (KRISTOPHER TURNER), ratchets up the tension further. Traveling in Europe, he knew nothing of his father's passing and accuses his stepmother of killing him. Another Hamlet joins the fray. However it is sexy, troubled Danielle (SARAIN BOYLAN), whose presence causes the most controversy. At dinner, the company's patron, Sabina (MARTHA BURNS), demands to know why "this whore was invited" and the party erupts.
Not quite forgotten in the chaos is Gabor's deathbed request to mount a final reading of Hamlet. When Hanna can't continue to lead the charge, Chad takes on the role of director, exacting shocking truths from the actors. As secrets are revealed, the players must come clean: To thine own self be true. With morning hangovers, they all leave altered by this tumultuous night. But there remains one last shocking truth that none would suspect.

Production

Country(ies) : CANADA

Financing plan : Telefilm Canada, Breakthrough Films & Television, Six Island Productions

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Festivals and Awards

Atlantic Film Festival 2011
Female Eye Film Festival 2011 (Best Picture Award)
Carmel Art & Film 2011 (Best Picture Award)


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