A Promise to the Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman

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A Promise to the Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman
Directed by Peter Raymont
Based onHeading South, Looking North
by Ariel Dorfman
Produced byPeter Raymont
StarringAriel Dorfman
CinematographyMark Ellam
Edited byMichèle Hozer
Music by Mark Korven
Production
company
White Pine Pictures
Distributed byFilm Transit International
Release date
  • September 8, 2007 (2007-09-08)(TIFF)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguagesEnglish
Spanish

A Promise to the Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman is a 2007 Canadian documentary film directed by Peter Raymont. [1] The film is based on the 1998 memoir Heading South, Looking North by long-exiled Chilean writer and human rights activist Ariel Dorfman, and profiles him during a trip back to his homeland. [2]

The film's production, initially slated for early 2006, was delayed by the illness and death of Raymont's wife, Lindalee Tracey. Raymont almost dropped out of the film, before deciding that having a project to work on would help him process his grief. [1] The film had its theatrical premiere at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival, [3] and was broadcast on television by Bravo in February 2008. [4]

The film was named to the initial longlist for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, [5] but did not make the final shortlist. It was named to TIFF's annual year-end Canada's Top Ten list for 2007, [6] and won the Donald Brittain Award at the 23rd Gemini Awards. [7]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Death and the documentarian". The Globe and Mail , September 5, 2007.
  2. "Home is what you make it, and in the places you break it: It's a cold world out beyond the hearth". Toronto Star , September 7, 2007.
  3. "The best of the fest; Sun movie critic Bruce Kirkland makes his Hot Picks for the 32nd annual Toronto International Film Festival". Toronto Sun , September 2, 2007.
  4. "Dorfman's journey into exile and his return to Chile's past". The Globe and Mail , February 21, 2008.
  5. "Cdn documentary in the running for this year's Academy Awards". Canadian Press , November 19, 2007.
  6. "Cronenberg, Arcand make Hogtown film festival's top Canadian movies list". Daily Gleaner , December 12, 2007.
  7. "CBC Wins Big At Geminis; Best Newscast". National Post , October 21, 2008.