Paul Gross war epic to screen for Canadian troops in Kandahar
Canadian troops in Afghanistan are getting a special advance screening of Paul Gross’s epic First World War film, Passchendaele.
Gross ó who wrote, starred in, and directed the tale of love and valour ó said Monday that soldiers stationed in Kandahar will be among the first Canadians to see his film on Friday.
“It has taken an uncommonly long time to bring this movie to the big screen, but we are finally able to present it to the Canadian public and in some small way pay homage to the sacrifice of our forefathers in the Great War of 1914-1918,” Gross said in a statement.
“It seems fitting that the troops who today so valiantly serve our country are among the first to see it,” Gross added on Monday night, as he and co-stars Caroline Dhavernas, Joe Dinicol and Meredith Bailey hosted a special screening in Ottawa for dignitaries including Gov. Gen. MichaÎlle Jean, army commander Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie and various military brass.
He noted that several soldiers from the Canadian Forces added a dose of realism to the film ó largely shot at an aboriginal reserve not far from Calgary ó by helping out as background actors and choreographing battle scenes.
And instead of staying in hotels provided by the production during filming, soldiers camped out on set at a site they dubbed Camp Hornberg in honour of Cpl. Nathan Hornberg. The 24-year-old mechanic from the King’s Own Calgary Regiment was killed while serving in Afghanistan.
Gross is in the midst of an eight-city national tour to promote Passchendaele, a $21-million project that he began envisioning about a dozen years ago after being inspired by war stories told by his grandfather. The movie opened the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month.
The film starts with a harrowing battle that leaves Sgt. Michael Dunne, played by Gross, wounded. The Canadian soldier later falls in love with a nurse, Sarah (portrayed by Dhavernas), at a Calgary hospital. When Sarah’s asthmatic brother David (Dinicol) decides to join the fight, Dunne feels compelled to protect him from the horrors of war and they both find themselves at the epic battle of Passchendaele.
Gross takes his special screenings to:
Winnipeg on Thursday.
Halifax on Oct. 6.
Montreal on Oct. 7.
Quebec City on Oct. 8.
Edmonton on Oct. 9.
Calgary on Oct. 15.
Vancouver on Oct. 16.
Passchendaele will be released across Canada on Oct. 17.
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