Currently Filming | Emile 
Starring Sir Ian McKellen and Deborah Kara Unger
Written by: Katherine Brodsky

Update: EMILE is currently in the midst of securing US distribution and has played in a number of festivals to generous, and often sold-out, response.

EMILE, a film starring Sir Ian McKellen and Deborah Kara Unger has been shooting in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada since November 25th. Emile is written and directed by Carl Bessai and is part three of the identity trilogy, which began with JOHNNY and LOLA.  Each film involves a central character who in the midst of facing an identity crisis. JOHNNY pursued a teenager, LOLA tagged along a woman in her thirties, and EMILE continues that journey with a sixty-five year old man (McKellen) who seeks redemption from a family he abandoned years ago. EMILE alternates between the past and present in attempt to reconnect with his family, and the bygone days that just doesn't let go. 

EMILE stars Sir Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, X2, Gods and Monsters, Richard III) as "Emile", Deborah Kara Unger (Between
Strangers, The Hurricane, Payback, The Game) as "Nadia", Chris William
Martin (Try Seventeen, Lola, Johnny) as "Carl", Tygh Runyan (15 Minutes,
AntiTrust, My Father's Angel) as "Freddy" and Ian Tracey (Lola, Prozac
Nation, The David Milgaard Story) as "Tom." New-comer
10 year old Theo Crane completes the cast.

The film's director, writer and cinematographer is Carl Bessai. The visionary and critically acclaimed filmmaker has worked in documentary, drama, short and feature film after gaining an MFA in film production from York University. Aside from the trilogy, previous work includes the documentary OUT OF ORBIT, which won the Silver Spire at the 2000 San Francisco International Film Festival and the experimental trilogy BANG!

Producers & Executives on board include Jacquelyn Renner (Last Wedding, Punch, Suddenly Naked, Marine Life), Jonathan English at Meltemi Entertainment in London, England and Bjork Veland of BV International Pictures in Norway.

EMILE is shooting in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada from November
25th to December 17th, 2002.  The film will be released in Canada by Seville Pictures and in the United Kingdom by Helkon Distribution and BV International Pictures.

Discovering your own identity is a tough journey, but we shall see if it's worth taking along with... EMILE.