The journey of Tom Thomson, one of Canada’s most beloved painters, is presented in the world television premiere of the Bravo Original Documentary, WEST WIND: THE VISION OF TOM THOMSON, Sunday, Oct. 7 at 10 p.m. ET on Bravo (visit bravo.ca for local broadcast times). Filmed on location in Leith, Seattle, Toronto, Georgian Bay and Algonquin Park, this 95-minute feature documentary explores many of the mysteries circulating Tom Thomson’s life, art, and unexpected death.
Screened at the 2011 Vancouver International Film Festival and the 2012 London Film Festival, WEST WIND: THE VISION OF TOM THOMSON stars Christian Golec (LIFE WITH BOYS) as a young Tom, James VanDerKleyn as an older Tom, and features the voices of Eric Peterson (CORNER GAS), Gordon Pinsent (THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH), and Susan Coyne (SLINGS AND ARROWS). The documentary is directed by award-winning Canadian filmmaker Peter Raymont (A Promise To The Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman) and two-time Gemini award-winning documentary editor Michèle Hozer.
Please click here to view the trailer.
** Media Note ** – Download photos at www.bellmediapr.ca/bravo
Considered the artist who discovered a nation through his vibrant interpretations of the northern Ontario landscape, WEST WIND: THE VISION OF TOM THOMSONreveals the story of Tom Thomson, Canada’s “greatest colourist” and “Canada’s Van Gogh”. Raised on a farm in Leith, Ontario, with nine brothers and sisters, Thomson then followed his eldest brother to Seattle where he first dipped into oil painting and started establishing himself in the world of commercial art. Four years later, he returned to Canada and took a position at a series of photo engraving firms in Toronto. His colleagues – future members of the Group of Seven – were highly trained artists who saw great potential in this humble and generous man. They encouraged him to paint full-time, and in turn, Thomson led them north, to Algonquin Park, where the rivers, lakes, trees, and skies were interpreted into art in a daring new way, with raw and vibrant colours.
On July 8, 1917, just as he was reaching ascendancy in his craft, Tom Thomson paddled across Canoe Lake and disappeared. His body was found floating in the lake eight days later. The cause of his death remains a mystery to this day.
Additionally, WEST WIND Interactive (www.TomThomsonArt.com), which offers Canadians an opportunity to explore in more detail the life, times and work of Tom Thomson, launches on Sept. 24. Original artwork on WEST WIND Interactive is provided by the Art Gallery of Ontario, The National Gallery of Ontario, The McMichael Gallery and The Tom Thomson Gallery. The website is produced by White Pine Pictures, with the participation of the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund, Bell Media, and the Art Gallery of Ontario.
WEST WIND: THE VISION OF TOM THOMSON is produced by White Pine Pictures in association with Bravo, Knowledge Network Corporation, TVOntario, Saskatchewan Communications Network, with the participation of the Canada Media Fund and the Rogers Documentary and Cable Network Funds.
