On the big screen
Plaid Marquee to show film shot in Nova Scotia, The Lighthouse.
The Plaid Marquee is hoping a Nova Scotia-filmed and Academy Award-nominated film will draw a large crowd in New Glasgow Feb. 27. The Plaid Marquee Film Society is a non-profit, locally operated TIFF Film Circuit dedicated to hosting independent, foreign and Canadian films to fans of fine cinema. On Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at Cineplex in New Glasgow, the group will present, The Lighthouse. The psychological horror film stars Willem DaFoe and Robert Pattinson as two lighthouse keepers trying to maintain their sanity on a remote New England island in the 1890s. The filming was done at Leif Erikson Park in Cape Forchu and inside a hangar at Yarmouth International Airport. Kathy Dodds and Steve MacLean are founding members of the Plaid Marquee from 2002 and both say the movies that were filmed locally have a tendency to do best. For instance, The Hermit of Gully Lake sold out repeatedly and has helped raise revenue that allows the organization to operate. Maudie, a film about Nova Scotia artist Maud Lewis, also drew a large crowd. They hope there will be an equal interest when The Lighthouse is shown. “I think we’re going to have a bit more of a diverse audience,” Dodds said. The movie is rated R and has some dark themes to it, but they believe it’s one that will be of interest. “It’s not our usual movie selection,” MacLean said. “It’s a challenging movie.” While attendance at Plaid Marquee events has been up and down, Dodds said this time of year is particularly interesting for film lovers. “Our winter season tends to be a bit better partly because there’s a lot of hype with the Academy Awards and Golden Globes. People are hearing a lot more about the films and wanting to see them.” While people can often download movies or find other ways to watch them at home, Dodds believes many love coming to the theatre. “People still want to see things on the big screen.” MacLean said it’s also a great chance to be social during a season when that’s not always front of mind. “Hopefully people will see it as a night out, to get out the house and break up the long, dark winter to sit in the dark with a bunch of strangers — friendly strangers,” he said.