elc team
Theatre director Janine (Amanda Seyfried), has taken on the revival of the most famous play of her former mentor and lover, the opera Salome. While she works on the production of the work, the which deals with the trauma of the protagonist, Janine must renegotiate several relationships in her life. At the same time, her journey intersects with that of several members of the crew in unexpected ways. As opening night approaches, these various desires and ambitions begin to collide and Salome’s story takes on new meaning for Janine.
Atom Egoyan directed Salome in 1996, the first of many operas to be that would follow in his career. Known as a prominent director since the 1980s, Egoyan has proven to be a master of both media. “I have been involved in opera for several years, doing it alongside my film work. I always wondered if there was a way to unite the two worlds,” says Egoyan.
Egoyan’s Seven Veils marks his 18th film to premiere at TIFF, a significant milestone for the celebrated filmmaker. Having initially directed Salome for the Canadian Opera Company in 1996, Egoyan returned this year to stage a revival of the production.
More recently, the director has been interested in exploring what it would mean to produce opera
in today’s culture. This interest led Egoyan to write the script for Seven Veils, a remake of Salome, filmed at the same time as the opera was in stage, using the opera singers from Salome in the film itself.
