19/34
A serious theater director faces the task of remounting the most famous work of his former mentor, the opera “Salome”. Some disturbing memories from her past allow her repressed trauma to color the present. This is the second time Amanda Seyfried starred in a film directed by Atom Egoyan after Chloe (2009). “Best and Worst of TIFF 2023” (2023). There is a fascinating and fascinating story by Hawthorne, where a father, a famous avant-garde doctor, fiercely defends his daughter. In childhood, he gradually introduces her to a deadly poisonous plant. By the time she grows up, anyone who gets too close to her will suffer and die. The poison of the plant penetrates into her life blood. The woman is beautiful and terrible. “Don’t you love it?” he asks “that no one can break you?” Her answer pierces to the depths of the soul. “Father, I would rather love someone.” Jeanine is a theater director who, like the woman in Hawthorne’s story, asks to free herself from the shadow of heartless people. Suffering from insults from her father, mentor, husband, and now an arrogant actor – insults that they call “love”, Jeanine tries to heal and go beyond them, without losing what is essential and good in herself. She is trying her best to escape from the traps set for her. Find something else. “Remove one feeling, and others will intensify.” I love Egoyan’s films for their depth, surprising twists and exploration of intriguing themes (passion, misjudgment, insults, trying to find a way forward after committing evil, love, points of view different from my own, and much more). Following a woman drifting downstream after being abused, Seven Veils continues in typical Egoian fashion. The action takes place in the building of the Canadian Opera Company a few blocks from the place where I saw the world premiere of the film at the Toronto International Film Festival. Although Egoyan spent too much time in the theater for my taste, I understand why this was done. Egoyan directed the opera company’s real production of “Salome” and largely adapted it into “Seven Veils”. Even some actors from the real opera are also present in the film. Amanda Seyfried expertly brought Jeanine to life. Off topic – why did Seyfried have surgery? Not that she looked bad now, but in Egoyan’s previous film “Chloe” she looks much better. (long sigh) When I think of Seven Veils, I like it even more. Moving beyond the trauma of violence is a fascinating topic. The one who said he loved me hurt me very much. Sometimes it’s hard to understand that I’m worthy of love. In Jeanine’s battles, I see my own.