Totem Films acquires rights to ’Measures for a Funeral’
A new chapter for Sofia Bohdanowicz
Paris-based Totem Films has secured the world sales rights, excluding Canada, for Canadian filmmaker Sofia Bohdanowicz‘s latest work, Measures for a Funeral. This acquisition comes just in time for the film’s world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival’s Centrepiece program.
A serendipitous encounter
Margot Hervée, head of sales and acquisitions at Totem, recalls her first encounter with Bohdanowicz’s work a few years ago. “It immediately resonated with me,” she shared. “We’re thrilled to now have her as part of the Totem family and to represent her latest film.”
A Canadian touch
Vortex Media will handle the film’s distribution in Canada. As part of the announcement, Totem has released a teaser for Measures for a Funeral, which stars Deragh Campbell as Audrey Benac, a ”family detective” character she has portrayed in previous Bohdanowicz films, including MS Slavic 7.
A journey through history
Filmed across Canada, the U.K., and Norway, Measures for a Funeral follows graduate student Audrey as she uncovers the story of real-life Canadian violin prodigy Kathleen Parlow (1890–1963). The film won the Kodak and Silveryway Award during FIDMarseille’s co-production lab in 2020. Audrey’s journey begins when she discovers a lost concerto dedicated to Parlow in the university’s music department archives.
A personal connection
Bohdanowicz shares a personal connection to Parlow. “I knew about Parlow because she was a legend in my family,” she revealed. “Parlow mentored my grandfather, who was second fiddle in the Toronto Symphony. My first memories of going to a concert are sitting in Roy Thomson Hall and watching him play.”
The discovery
In 2016, Bohdanowicz read an article about the discovery of Parlow’s manuscript score of Opus 28, a 1909 composition by Norwegian composer Johan Halvorsen. The work, dedicated to Parlow, had been missing for years. “Right away I went to the library to look at the manuscript,” Bohdanowicz said. “Eventually, after it was performed in Norway by the Malmo Symphony, I heard a recording and was stunned by the piece.”
The quest for performance
Bohdanowicz was driven by the ambiguity and lack of interest in the piece. “The ambiguity around it — or, I guess, the lack of interest in the piece of music — kind of made me want to pursue the performance of it,” she explained.
A treasure trove of history
The Parlow archive is rich with photographs, paper ephemera, and diaries that add depth to the film’s script and visuals. “What you see in the film only scratches the surface,” Bohdanowicz adds.
A unique voice
The film also features the celebrated Canadian singer Mary Margaret O’Hara as the voice of Kathleen Parlow. “She is such an intuitive artist who has this great gift of improvisation,” Bohdanowicz said. “She has an incredibly unique voice that has a warm tone that also has a ghostly presence.”
A grand finale
The film culminates in a live concert of Opus 28 in Montreal, performed by the Orchestre Métropolitain and world-renowned Spanish violinist María Dueñas Fernández, who both performs the work and plays the character of the young violinist. Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin also takes on dual roles as conductor and actor.
A collaborative effort
Measures for a Funeral is produced by Aonan Yang and Andrea Mendritzki of Montreal-based GreenGround Productions, along with Bohdanowicz, and co-produced by Priscilla Galvez.
Totem’s 2023 slate
The acquisition of Measures for a Funeral adds to Totem’s impressive 2023 slate, which includes Mo Harawe’s Cannes premiere The Village Next to Paradise, Berlinale titles My Favourite Cake and Crossing, and Juho Kuosmanen’s The Silent Trilogy.
Premiere details
Measures for a Funeral will have its world premiere on Saturday, September 7, at the Toronto Film Festival. For more information and to watch the teaser, visit the Measures for a Funeral page.
For cinema and TV series enthusiasts, this film promises a rich tapestry of historical intrigue, personal connection, and artistic resurrection. The meticulous research and personal ties Bohdanowicz brings to the project make it a must-watch for anyone interested in the intersection of history and art.