Movie Night in Canada: Vancouver lesbian romcom Better Than Chocolate

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      While we normally ask film professionals for their recommendations of rare, obscure, or underrated Canadian cinematic gems, for this installation, we're recommending a film that's playing in Vancouver tonight.

      It's part of The Image Before Us film series, a retrospective of British Columbian film.

      The series began in 2015 and this second season takes a look at themes such as family, autobiography, and sex.

      Some of those themes are apparent in the 1999 Vancouver-set lesbian romcom Better Than Chocolate, directed by Anne Wheeler.

      The screenplay was written by former UBC screenwriting professor Peggy Thompson, who previously contributed not only one but two Movie Night in Canada recommendations.

      When Maggie (Karyn Dwyer) falls for Kim (Christina Cox), their closeted romance is disrupted when Maggie's recently divorced mom (Wendy Crewson, who came out as lesbian a few years ago) and brother (Kevin Mundy) move in with them.  

      Also in the mix is transgender Judy (Peter Outbridge) who is crushing on bookstore owner Frances (Canadian author Anne-Marie McDonald). Frances is fighting against censorship, in a storyline that draws from the real-life historic battle between our city's own Little Sister's Bookstore and Canada Customs over LGBT content.

      There are plenty of other local and lesbian in-jokes and references to watch for throughout the film. The film provides an interesting time capsule of how things have changed for LGBT people in Vancouver since the late '90s.

      Here's the trailer to take a look at what the film is like:

      The film screens tonight (April 11) at the Cinematheque (1131 Howe Street) at 7 p.m.

      Wheeler, Thompson, and producer Sharon McGowan will all be in attendance.

      And to add to the reasons to go see the film, you can also check out the Cinematheque's nifty renovations, which were unveiled on April 8 and include a new sound system and more comfortable seats.

      Meanwhile, we're counting down the days to National Canadian Film Day (April 20) so there are plenty more Movie Night in Canada recommendations in store. Stay tuned, True North believers.

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