Alessa Woo is an ambitious art dealer who meets her match in gifted painter Ben Crowchild in this romantic comedy.

Join us for the first Desire in Motion screening as we celebrate National Canadian Film Day with Helen Lee’s underrated romantic comedy, The Art of Woo(2001). Helen Lee and other special guests will be in attendance for a Q&A after the screening. This screening will be preceded by Helen Lee’s newest short film, Tenderness (2024), which premiered at TIFF last fall.

The Art of Woois a captivating romantic comedy about Alessa Woo (Sook-Yin Lee), an ambitious woman who dreams of conquering the Toronto art scene, and Ben Crowchild (Adam Beach), a soft-spoken Cree artist who moves in next door. From their first encounter, Alessa and Ben feel cosmically connected and not just because they share an adjoining bathroom and a mutual passion for art. Alessa’s determination as a curator intrigues Ben, who has more hidden connections to the art world than Alessa realizes. As the pair spend more time together, their carefully-curated lives begin to unravel and secrets from the past test their budding romance.

The Art of Woowas ahead of its time when it debuted in 2001, a period when film critics couldn’t accept two non-white romantic leads and a bold script that is still as inspiring today as it was two decades ago. The film brilliantly explores the deeply human desire to transcend the material world and live a fulfilling life on one’s own terms. -JACOB CREPEAULT