Screening times:
Friday, April 4, 6:00 PM
Sunday, April 6, 5:30 PM
Naomi Jaye | Canada | 2024 | 87m
with Britt Lower, Tom Mercier, Sook-Yin Lee, Jean Yoon
Librarian Miriam Gordon (Britt Lower of Severance) lives in a fog while working amidst marginalized members of the public who populate the Allen Gardens branch of the Toronto Public Libraries.
The library, Miriam’s small social sphere, consists of her co-workers Susu Leung (Sook-Yin Lee) and Irene Frenkle (Jean Yoon) and a few regular library patrons. Most of her outward expression is kept in a binder full of Incident Reports, where she documents the irregularities of her branch – from patron’s casual rule-flouting or outbursts, to the odd, threatening letters she begins to find hidden throughout the library.
Apparitions of her late father and her childhood begin to appear, she begins to suspect the behaviour of some of the library patrons. As she starts to spend time with Janko (Tom Mercier), a younger, Slovenian cab driver, Miriam’s sheltered existence is cracked open.
Britt Lower shines in her first high profile lead role, a character study and portrait of isolation about a woman in an unforgiving urban environment that turns into a lovely and affecting love story.
Darkest Miriam is writer/director Naomi Jaye’s adaptation of the 2009 novel The Incident Report by Martha Baillie. The film is executive produced by the Academy Award-winning screenwriter Charlie Kaufman.
“Naomi Jaye has taken the unpromising story of a soft-spoken young librarian and turned it into a small wonder of a film, eloquent and captivating.” - Caryn James, The Hollywood Reporter
“A cryptic and unconventional story is effectively adapted to film through the vision and creativity of an impressive new filmmaking talent.” - Monica Reid, Far Out Magazine
“There’s a subtlety and quietness to "Darkest Miriam" that continually laces this sad, yet captivating drama, with Britt Lower‘s haunting central performance adding a poetry to proceedings that beautifully captures those watching.” - Peter Gray, The AU Review
Winner: Best Feature Director - Directors Guild of Canada, Fantasia Film Festival 2024
Tickets $8.75 ($8 cash at the door if available)
