The Okanagan Screen Arts Society screens A Monster Calls at the Vernon Towne Cinema Monday, March 13 at 5:15 and 7:45 p.m.
The film stars Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones and Liam Neeson.
A Monster Calls is a dark, fantasy drama about a boy dealing with his terminally ill mother with the help of a tree-monster (hence the fantasy aspect of the film).
The film is based on the popular novel by Patrick Ness, who also wrote the screenplay and tells the story of a young boy, who, facing the death of his mother, the discipline of a strict grandmother, the abandonment of an estranged father, and the persecution of a bully, meets a huge, talking tree-monster (voiced by Liam Neeson).
Over the course of three nights, the tree monster helps him navigate the pains of growing up by telling and listening to a series of stories.
Critics say that A Monster Calls “deftly balances dark themes and fantastical elements to deliver an engrossing and uncommonly moving entry in the crowded coming-of-age genre,” and have praised the film’s themes, performances, directing and visual effects.
The Okanagan Screen Arts Society is a non-profit group committed to bringing independent, quality, genre-breaking films to Vernon with a goal of providing bursaries and grants to students working in the screen arts.
There will be a wine bar, live music by Les Copeland and a brief introduction by Matt McDowell, star of the YouTube series 52 at 52 before each screening.