Critics are calling the feature film Lucid an “entertaining paranormal thriller” (Liam Lacey, The Globe and Mail) that “delivers a jolt to the psyche” (Peter Howell, Toronto Star). Sean Garrity (right), the director, co-writer and producer of Lucid, has been described as “the new wave of Canadian cinema” (Northern Life).
Garrity, an alumnus of York’s Department of Film (BFA ’93), will be on campus Monday, March 13 to speak to film students – the next generation of Canadian filmmakers – about his latest production and his career. Members of the York community are invited to sit in on his talk, taking place in the Nat Taylor Cinema, N102 Ross Bldg., from 12:30pm to 2pm.
Lucid follows the steep decline of a young psychotherapist named Joel Rothman (played by Jonas Chernick, who also co-wrote the screenplay). Joel conducts group therapy sessions for patients who suffer from various forms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Yet Joel too is suffering – from insomnia: his wife has just left him and his daughter is becoming increasingly despondent. After each day and sleepless night, Joel begins to mirror the traits of his aggressive and withdrawn patients. As he continues to move away from normalcy, Joel is forced to examine the darker aspects of his own psyche.
Left: A scene from Lucid
Lucid is Garrity’s second feature film. It premiered as an official selection of the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival and won the CityTV Award for Best Western Canadian Feature at the 2005 Vancouver International Film Festival.
Garrity hit the ground running as a filmmaker – his production INerTia (2001) received the Best First Feature award at the 2001 Toronto International Film Festival. He started his career in Winnipeg, where he made a name for himself creating award-winning music videos for The Wyrd Sisters, Mark Reeves and Richard Moody. Alongside feature filmmaking, Garrity has continued to create short films, which too have garnered international awards. Not satisfied working solely in visual media, Garrity has also played bass on several CDs and performs to weekend audiences in Winnipeg, which he continues to call home.
Lucid opens in theatres across Canada March 17, when audiences can find out why the The Globe & Mail has called Garrity one of three “Canadian Filmmakers to Watch”.