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Surfacing is a 1981 Canadian drama film directed by Claude Jutra and starring Kathleen Beller, R. H. Thomson, Joseph Bottoms, Michael Ironside and Margaret Dragu.[1] The film was written by Bernard Gordon as an adaptation of Margaret Atwood's novel Surfacing (1972).
| Surfacing | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Claude Jutra |
| Written by | Bernard Gordon |
| Based on | Surfacing by Margaret Atwood |
| Produced by | Beryl Fox |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Richard Leiterman |
| Edited by | Toni Trow |
| Music by |
|
Release date |
|
Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
The film received mixed reviews, with criticism of Bottoms' performance, and praise for Dragu’s.[2][3][4] The film garnered one Genie Award nomination at the 3rd Genie Awards, for songwriter Ann Mortifee in the Best Original Song category.
Atwood's novel was widely considered "unfilmable",[1] and Jutra's adaptation was not considered successful.[1] He had been brought in as director only at the last minute, after original director Eric Till dropped out;[5] it was also the first narrative feature film ever produced by Beryl Fox, who was primarily known as a documentary filmmaker.[5] In addition, the film was criticized for casting Beller and Bottoms, actors from the United States, in a film adaptation of a novel with themes of Canadian nationalism, as well as for giving Bottoms top billing even though Beller's character was the novel's primary protagonist.[5] Jutra rebounded the following year with the more successful and better-received By Design.[5]
The final diving scene was filmed in the Bon Echo Provincial Park area on Mazinaw Lake at Mazinaw Rock in south-eastern Ontario. Nearby, the former Pethicks store/gas station was also used. The river scenes were shot on the Madawaska River near Algonquin Park.
- Joseph Bottoms as Joe
- Kathleen Beller as Kate
- R.H. Thomson as David
- Michael Ironside as Wayne
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