On April 21, the Scenic City Film Festival and Words Aloud Spoken Word and Storytelling Festival extend an invitation to join them for a screening of Al Purdy Was Here, the award-winning documentary which profiles one of Canada's most well-known poets. The evening's festivities start at 7 pm at the Heartwood Concert Hall in Owen Sound, and is one of many poetry-themed events taking place across Canada in celebration of National Poetry Month.
A man of many contradictions, the film chronicles the sometimes rough road that Al Purdy followed on his journey to becoming a highly-respected poet and internationally-known Canadian icon. Provocateur, barfly, factory worker, inveterate traveller, mentor of other writers, lover of wild lands, Al Purdy endured decades ofpoverty and failure before he finally started to write what he judged to be half- decent poetry.
At the same time as examining the life of this extraordinary Canadian, the film also looks at the efforts to preserve as a writing retreat the A-frame cabin Purdy and his wife Eurithe built in Prince Edward County. Along for the ride with reminiscences and performances inspired by Purdy's poems are such Canadian luminaries as Margaret Atwood, Joseph Boyden, Sarah Harmer, Gordon Pinsent, Leonard Cohen, Bruce Cockburn, and Gord Downie, as well as Eurithe Purdy herself.
The Owen Sound screening of Al Purdy Was Here will be enhanced by the presence of the film's director,
Brian D. Johnson. A 29-year Senior Writer with Maclean's magazine, Johnson is also the author of three non-fiction books, a novel and a book of poetry. He is well known across Canada for his film criticism and his cultural commentary.
In addition to Johnson, special guests at the event will be Rob Rolfe and Larry Jensen (Owen Sound Poets Laureate), singer/songwriter Coco Love Alcorn, and singer/songwriter, comedian, playwright and Purdy poetry lover Steve Morel.
Tickets for Al Purdy Was Here are $20 and are available in advance at Heartwood Home, 939 2nd Avenue E., Owen Sound. The event will take place on the second floor of Heartwood Home, in the Heartwood Concert Hall, April 21, 2016 at 7 pm. Heartwood Home phone number: 519-470-2500.
