''Al Purdy Was Here'' is a 2015 Canadian documentary film."Al Purdy lives in the present in film premiering at TIFF"
''

The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Newspapers in Canada, Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in Western Canada, western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of more than 6 million in 2024, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on week ...

'', September 14, 2015. Directed by Brian D. Johnson, the film is about the A-Frame Campaign, a literary and artistic project to raise funds for the restoration of influential Canadian poet Al Purdy's cabin in Prince Edward County as a writers’ and artists’ retreat. It also touches upon Purdy's quest to become a great Canadian poet, and the artists wrapped up in his legacy. In addition to archival footage of Purdy, the film also features writers

Leonard Cohen Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian songwriter, singer, poet, and novelist. Themes commonly explored throughout his work include faith and mortality, isolation and depression, betrayal and redemption, soc ...

Margaret Atwood Margaret Eleanor Atwood (born November 18, 1939) is a Canadian novelist, poet, literary critic, and an inventor. Since 1961, she has published 18 books of poetry, 18 novels, 11 books of nonfiction, nine collections of short fiction, eight chi ...

Michael Ondaatje Philip Michael Ondaatje (; born 12 September 1943) is a Sri Lankan-born Canadian poet, fiction writer and essayist. Ondaatje's literary career began with his poetry in 1967, publishing ''The Dainty Monsters'', and then in 1970 the critically a ...

, George Bowering and Joseph Boyden, actor

Gordon Pinsent Gordon Edward Pinsent (July 12, 1930 – February 25, 2023) was a Canadian actor, writer, director, and singer. He was known for his roles in numerous productions, including ''Away from Her'', ''The Rowdyman'', ''John and the Missus'', ''A Gift ...

, and musicians Gordon Downie,

Bruce Cockburn Bruce Douglas Cockburn ( ; born May 27, 1945) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist. His song styles range from folk to folk- and jazz-influenced rock to soundscapes accompanying spoken stories. His lyrics reflect interests in spirit ...

, Jesse Zubot, Sarah Harmer, Tanya Tagaq and Doug Paisley. The film debuted at the

2015 Toronto International Film Festival The 40th annual Toronto International Film Festival was held from 10 to 20 September 2015. On 28 July 2015 the first wave of films to be screened at the Festival was announced. Jean-Marc Vallée's ''Demolition'' starring Jake Gyllenhaal and N ...

, where it was named second runner-up for the People's Choice Award for Documentaries.

''The Al Purdy Songbook''

An album of songs and poems inspired by Purdy, titled ''The Al Purdy Songbook'', was also prepared as a companion piece to the film, and was released in 2018 to mark the 100th anniversary of Purdy's birth."Canadian poet Al Purdy inspires songs by Jason Collett, Sarah Harmer and more"
. '' Now'', January 22, 2019.

Track listing

# "3 Al Purdys" —

(6:05) # "Transient" — Doug Paisley (4:14) # "Just Get Here" — Sarah Harmer (4:28) # "The East Wind" — Gord Downie (4:28) # "Sensitive Man" — Jason Collett (5:32) # "Outdoor Hotel" — Snowblink (3:43) # "Unprovable" — Greg Keelor (4:26) # "Wilderness Gothic" —

(3:00) # "At the Quinte Hotel" — Gord Downie (3:08) # "Say the Names" — Bidiniband & the Billie Hollies (4:19) # "The Country North of Belleville" — Felicity Williams (4:54) # "Necropsy of Love" —

(1:22) # "Cowboy" — Casey Johnson (3:08)

References

External links

* 2015 films Canadian documentary films 2015 documentary films Documentary films about poets Films shot in Ontario 2015 directorial debut films 2010s English-language films 2010s Canadian films English-language documentary films English-language Canadian films {{arts-documentary-film-stub