This year's festival is packed with cinematic versions of some beloved Canadian books, including this year's opening and closing night films, Jeremy Podeswa's moving Fugitive Pieces and Paolo Barzman'sstirring Emotional Arithmetic.  Beyond the galas is a screen adaptation of Margaret Laurence's classic story The Stone Angel.  Starring Ellen Burstyn as the legendary Hagar The Stone Angel is an ambitious and assured adaptation, with some great performances and beautiful visuals. 

  That's Christine Horne and Cole Hauser pictured. 

Here's an interview with director Kari Skogland about bringing The Stone Angel to the big screen.

JESSE:  The Stone Angel is one of the more famous Canadian literary works.  How do you approach adapting something like that for the screen?

KARI:  Carefully, but without making it too precious. As we all know, the literary experience is vastly different from the theatrical experience so, you have to choose which master your are going to serve. As daunting as the idea was, I analyzed and went at the adaptation from story first - then character.  I also found the ideas I felt were buried in her writing -the bubbling passion, the secrets of a small town and it's proud lineages - and bring them to the surface so there was a fresh perspective .  I hope I shook it up a bit!  I also decided early on that I was writing this to be a great epic story, but not a literary document so I allowed myself to stray from underlying material if I felt necessary for the sake of what would make a great theatrical experience. And lastly, I wanted to make sure the landscape was a character in the film so, it was important to pay attention to the visuals - they had to be provocative and ruggedly beautiful - thankfully the weather in Manitoba was spectacular for our entire shoot.

JESSE:  How do you see Hagar Shipley?

KARI: She is all woman. She struggles with her heart verses her head - and spends her life making tragic mistakes.  She was brought up to revere social status, very British rules as if it was the secret to success.  Yet she chose to rebel against that ideal and ended up spending her life at odds with that decision.  She finally discovers that love is pure and simple and that's what life is about.  It's a bittersweeet packed moment and one we can all learn from.

JESSE:  Ellen Burstyn gives a remarkable performance as Hagar.  What did she bring to the role?

KARI:  Ellen is the real deal and very much an actor's actor. She understood Hagar from the moment she read the script. Ellen had done the broadway play "Trip to Bountiful" which resonated similarities so I think that helped her to add the layer of vulnerability Hagar has under the surface. We had to like Hagar even when she was being a pain to deal with and Ellen understood the nuance of Hagar's fear and how she hides behind her caustic wit.  Ellen is also a filmmaker in her own right and that made her my partner in telling this story.  I can't tell you how important that is to me because if everyone is making the same movie we can't help but get it right. She also brought her tremendous proffessionalism. She raised the bar, particularly for the younger actors. She was there to do the work and her focus and process is simple yet spectacular which makes everyone's world on set so great, we all felt tremendous respect.
She's a real leader.

JESSE:  Two generations of Hausers are also in the movie, Wings Hauser and his son Cole, who play the old and young Bram respectively.  How did having a real father and son affect those roles?

KARI:  Wow, was that a treat. And there had been a rift between the two, so it became part of a healing process. I was very thankful to Wings for jumping on board.  Strangely, the story paralleled some of his own life so he really connected with the role which brought a tragedy that is heartwrenching to watch.  And the bonus was, they looked alike!

JESSE:  If you were to make a movie adapted from another Canadian novel next, what novel would you most like to adapt?

KARI:  oooohhhhh - tough question.  I'm on the hunt now....