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Winnipeg-based director Sean Garrity’s film, Zooey & Adam, begins a week-long engagement this Friday at The Royal. Despite the fact that it’s a movie about a couple trying to have a baby, do not assume it has any relation to romantic comedy.  The trailer calls it ‘haunting’, ‘emotionally devastating’, and ‘a new kind of horror’. After doing the rounds on the film festival circuit, this controversial film is finally coming to Toronto for its premiere.  Bonus: according to The Royal‘s website, director Garrity will be in attendance for both March 5th and 6th screenings.

The Zooey (Daria Putteart) and Adam (Tom Keenan) of the film’s title are a couple trying (unsuccessfully) to have a baby.  When they go on a retreat to relax, the couple is attacked by a group of drunken men, who beat them and rape Zooey.  She becomes pregnant as a result, and the film documents their troubles in coming to terms with it.

Garrity’s interesting and unique brand of filmmaking is something to be aware of.  He has coined the style ‘Solo Cinema’ because he uses a crew of one, and the actors aren’t given a script.  As it has been described, it “explores the grey area between fiction and documentary, by crafting a series of chronological situations, putting actors in those situations, and documenting what they do.”  Given the harrowing nature of the film’s plot, I can see where the controversy comes in.  It doesn’t look like it’ll be a comfortable film to watch – but it will be quite fascinating.

Zooey & Adam is playing at The Royal, 608 College St (416-534-5252).  It will be playing at various times daily from Friday, March 5th through to Thursday, March 11th.  Please check with the theatre for specific times.

The film’s official website is a wealth of information on the making of the film.  You can watch the trailer here.  And you can see the Toronto Film Scene review here.