Lynne Stopkewich
Encyclopedia
Lynne Stopkewich is a Canadian
film director, particularly notable as the director of the film Kissed
(1996).
In addition to Kissed, Stopkewich has directed the feature film Suspicious River
(2000). She has also directed various television episodes of Bliss
, Da Vinci's Inquest
, The L Word
, This Is Wonderland
and The Shields Stories
. Stopkewich generally prefers to work with cast and crew with whom she has worked before, most notably, the actress Molly Parker
.."
Stopkewich's approach to the gaze in film is in part informed by feminist film theory
, and thus her films have been described as being "darkly feminist." Canadians also see in her films "a strong sense of local culture" which rises "above the American appropriation of Vancouver as a backdrop for American generic culture."
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
film director, particularly notable as the director of the film Kissed
Kissed
Kissed is a 1996 Canadian film, directed and co-written by Lynne Stopkewich, based on Barbara Gowdy's short story "We So Seldom Look On Love"...
(1996).
History
In 1987, Stopkewich obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in film studies from Concordia University, followed in 1996 by a Master of Fine Arts Degree in film studies from the Department of Theatre and Film at the University of British Columbia. Her first short films were made while at Concordia. Kissed commenced development as Stopkewich's thesis feature at the University of British Columbia, to which Stopkewich later returned as a faculty member.In addition to Kissed, Stopkewich has directed the feature film Suspicious River
Suspicious River
Suspicious River is a Canadian dramatic film, released in 2000. The film was directed by Lynne Stopkewich, based on a novel by Laura Kasischke...
(2000). She has also directed various television episodes of Bliss
Bliss (TV series)
Bliss is a Canadian produced, half hour dramatic television series, produced by Montreal-based Galafilm and Toronto-based Back Alley Films, an anthology of women's erotica...
, Da Vinci's Inquest
Da Vinci's Inquest
Da Vinci's Inquest is a Canadian dramatic television series that aired on CBC Television from 1998 to 2005. Seven seasons of thirteen episodes each were filmed for a total of ninety-one episodes....
, The L Word
The L Word
The L Word is an American co-production television drama series originally shown on Showtime portraying the lives of a group of lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their friends, family and lovers in the trendy Greater Los Angeles, California city of West Hollywood...
, This Is Wonderland
This Is Wonderland
This Is Wonderland was a Canadian television series which aired on CBC Television. The series is a legal drama with comedic elements, or a comedy-drama. It was created by playwright George F...
and The Shields Stories
The Shields Stories
The Shields Stories was a Canadian television drama series, which aired on W in 2004. A short-run dramatic anthology series produced by Shaftesbury Films, the series dramatized six short stories by Carol Shields....
. Stopkewich generally prefers to work with cast and crew with whom she has worked before, most notably, the actress Molly Parker
Molly Parker
Molly Parker is a Canadian actress, notable for her roles in Canadian and American independent films and the HBO television series Deadwood.Parker won a Genie Award in 1997 as Best Actress in a Leading Role for Kissed...
.."
Stopkewich's approach to the gaze in film is in part informed by feminist film theory
Feminist film theory
Feminist film theory is theoretical film criticism derived from feminist politics and feminist theory. Feminists have many approaches to cinema analysis, regarding the film elements analysed and their theoretical underpinnings.-History:...
, and thus her films have been described as being "darkly feminist." Canadians also see in her films "a strong sense of local culture" which rises "above the American appropriation of Vancouver as a backdrop for American generic culture."