Travel back in time and discover one of the most important records of northern Canadian life on film! Join us for a screening of Treasures of the Far Fur Country, </em>a documentary that uses excerpts of archival footage from the original 1920 silent film The Romance of the Far Fur Country that has not been seen by the public in over 80 years.
The Romance of the Far Fur Countrywas commissioned in 1919 by the Hudson's Bay Company to celebrate its 250th anniversary. The film was shot in Company posts across Canada’s northern regions.The original full-length feature filmpremiered in 1920 at Winnipeg’s Allen Theatre.
By the end of the 1920s, audiences were turning their attention to the “talkies” and the canisters of nitrate film were shipped to the Hudson’s Bay Company archive in London for safekeeping. The film disappeared from public view. Some 83 years later, part of this long-lost piece of Canadian cinematic history was rediscovered and repatriated to the Hudson’s Bay Company Archives in Winnipeg.
While the original two-hour film has not been reproduced yet, Treasures of the Far Fur Country features 30 minutes of original footage. Unbeknownst to the filmmakers in 1919, their footage has become an extraordinary time capsule.
Arrive early for a guided tour of the exhibition Expedition: Arctic and stay on after the film for a discussion with Kevin Nikkel, the film’s curator and Dr. David Morrison, Curator, Archaeology and History at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
More information and movie trailer at http://blog.returnfarfurcountry.ca/
Guided tour of the exhibition – English: 5:30 p.m. (only 25 tickets available)
Guided tour of the exhibition – French: 5:45 p.m. (only 25 tickets available)
Screening and discussion – 7:00 p.m.