[CAH] Nova Scotia Première of Canvas

[Community Action on Homelessness]

Hi everyone.  Here's some information on an upcoming event.  As this is not
a CAH event, please send your enquiries directly to the Schizophrenia
Society of Nova Scotia.

Thanks.
Laurie
CAHt*
*
-----Original Message-----
*From:* SSNS [mailto:ssns at ns.sympatico.ca]
*Sent:* November 20, 2007 7:22 PM
*To:* SSNS
*Subject:* Nova Scotia Première of Canvas

 *In partnership with the Nova Scotia Department of Health, the
Schizophrenia Society of **Nova Scotia** presents*

*Canvas***

Sunday, November 25th, 1:00 pm

Oxford Theatre

6408 Quinpool Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Although playing in select theatres in the United States, this movie has yet
to be released in Canada.  We invite you to attend this special Nova
Scotiapremière event!

Tickets can be obtained through a donation in support of the Schizophrenia
Society of Nova Scotia by phoning 465-2601 or 1-800-465-2601 (toll-free in
Nova Scotia), or at the Oxford Theatre box office beginning at 12:00 noon on
Sunday, November 25th.

Income tax receipts will be issued for all donations of $10.00 or more.

*Please post the attached flyer for others to see.  Thanks!*

Synopsis:

Ten year old Chris Marine (Devon Gearhart) lives in a blue-collar beach town
where he can often be found fishing at the water's edge.  His father, John
(Emmy Award Winner Joe Pantoliano – The Sopranos), is a carpenter and his
mother Mary (Academy Award Winner Marcia Gay Harden – Pollock), suffers from
schizophrenia and paints her dreams onto canvas.

Chris attempts to conceal his mother's illness, but her bizarre public
behaviour alienates him from other kids at school.  When his mother sews a
mismatched patch on his shirt, Chris is angry at first, until he receives
numerous compliments from other kids and requests for more shirts.

When Mary's illness leads her to violence that endangers the entire family,
John has no choice but to hospitalize the woman he loves.  Unable to cope
with his wife's illness, John immerses himself day and night building a
sailboat from scratch, neglecting his son and his job.  Chris, feeling hurt
by his father and unable to cope with his mother's illness, takes his
emotions out on his father's unfinished boat leaving a hole in the hull.

With some of the money Chris made selling his custom shirts, he approaches
his father to offer help to fix the boat and reconcile his emotions.  Father
and son take the finished boat on a maiden voyage where John tells him his
dream to take Mary sailing again, in the boat he promised her years ago.

The film traces the family's journey, from struggling to cope, to learning
to accept and ultimately coming together through love, understanding and
mutual support.

"When my mother was in the state hospital, my father took me out on his
sailboat.  Mom never came sailing with us, but we always hoped that she
would.  That hope was my story." – Joe Greco, Writer-Director



For information on *Canvas*, visit www.canvasthefilm.com.