FILM
Requiem for a Dream
This month's Cinema Salon at Vancity Theatre features thoughtful author and physician Gabor Maté, who has done extensive work in the Downtown Eastside with patients suffering from addiction and mental health issues. The film he presents is 2000's Requiem for a Dream. Set in Brooklyn's Brighton Beach, it is the story of Sara (Ellen Burstyn), a lonely widow, her heroin junkie son Harry (Jared Leto), his cocaine-addicted girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly) and his best friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans). Yes, this is a film about drugs, but it's also a meditation on how anything can become addictive - diet pills, a TV show, an unrealized dream. Vancity Theatre, tomorrow at 7:30 pm (vifc.org).
Wind Echoing in My Being: The Films of Jeon Soo-Il
One of South Korean cinema's leading contemporary independent directors, Jeon's films have screened at prestigious festivals around the world, including Cannes and Venice, but he remains relatively unknown in North America. Films screening this week include With a Girl of Black Soil, Wind Echoing in My Being, Time Between Dog and Wolf, Himalaya: The Place Wind Dwells, The Bird Who Stops in the Air and My Right to Ravage Myself. Pacific Cinematheque, Jan. 7 to Jan 11 (cinematheque.bc.ca).
MUSIC
National Broadcast Orchestra
Formerly the CBC Radio Orchestra, the re-born National Broadcast Orchestra is holding a benefit concert, so they can carry on the excellent music-making once funded by Canadian taxpayers. This performance features Anton Kuerti on piano and Jens Lindemann on trumpet. Alain Trudel conducts this inaugural performance in the NBO's new venue. The concert is to be recorded for broadcast on CBC Radio 2. Ah, the irony. Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, Friday at 8:00 pm (chancentre.com).
Emily Osment
You might know her as Lilly from Hannah Montana (or as Haley Joel's younger sister) but she wants you to think of her as a pop singer, too. The 17-year old performs songs from her debut EP All the Right Wrongs and new material she's been working on. Beware the young screaming fans in the audience - this is music for teeny-boppers. Thursday, Bell Performing Arts Centre, Surrey, 7:00 pm (ticketmaster.ca).
Tegan and Sara
The Canadian pop/punk/rock duo (and twins) head out on the road to promote their latest CD, Sainthood. With guests An Horse. The Orpheum theatre, tomorrow and Wednesday, 7:30 pm (ticketmaster.ca)
VISUAL ARTS
to show, to give, to make it be there
Author Michael Turner ( Hard Core Logo, 8 x 10) curates this exploration of multidisciplinary art during an important 15-year period in Vancouver's cultural history in to show, to give, to make it be there: Expanded Literary Practices in Vancouver: 1954-1969. Artists featured include Stan Douglas, Michael Morris, Malcolm Lowry and Ian Wallace. Simon Fraser University Gallery, Jan. 9 to Mar. 13 (sfu.ca/artgallery)