Canadian artist Sook-Yin Lee looks to challenge her viewers with latest film
Canadian icon Sook-Yin Lee was a well-known known video journalist (VJ) with MuchMusic through the 1990s. Since then, she has evolved into an artist, filmmaker and storyteller.
Lee’s latest movie, “Paying for it,” made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September before screening at the Atlantic International Film Festival, taking place in Halifax from Sept. 11 to Sept. 18.
“Paying for it” is adapted from a graphic novel authored by Lee’s ex-boyfriend, Canadian cartoonist Chester Brown, and tells the story of their relationship.
“It’s an unusual and surprising love story, but it is a love story nonetheless,” Lee said during an interview with CTV.
“It’s a complicated subject matter,” Lee said. “[It] deals with the search for love and connection and sex through dating and also paying for sex.”
Lee said the story is about a couple who open their relationship and decide to “swing.” She said there is political nuance in the story, but still describes it as “a warm hug” that focuses on relationships.
The film stars Emily Lê as Sonny, who is based on Lee and Daniel Byrne as Brown, who finds liberation in the idea of sexual relationships without emotional attachment.
Lee said she found her own liberation by returning to her younger self and exploring the curiosity and openness she experienced at the time.
“Part of it is I recreate MuchMusic, where I was a VJ, but I call it Max Music,” Lee said. “I feature a lot of great Canadian independent artists, because they really rocked the foundation and made Canadian music world known."
Lee said she hopes the film will make viewers challenge their beliefs.
“I hope that people can reflect upon their own lives," Lee said.
After much time and reflection of her own, Lee said she and Brown remain close.
“He’s still my best friend.”
For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Father and daughter found dead in northwest Calgary
Calgary police are investigating the death of a father and daughter on Sunday night as a double homicide and believe it's the result of a domestic incident.
Year in review: Notable people who died in 2024
Here is a roll call of some noteworthy figures who died in 2024.
Halifax airport runway reopens after plane caught fire upon landing
The plane that caught fire upon landing at Halifax's airport over the weekend has been removed, and the runway has reopened.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Grading Trudeau's performance in 2024, and what's ahead for him in the new year
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is about to enter the final year of his mandate and, quite possibly, of his political career, writes Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca. The former NDP leader takes a snapshot of Trudeau's leadership balance sheet as a way of understanding how he got to where he is in the polls.
Murder, she spoke: Violence and death getting mentioned more often in movie scripts, study finds
A new study shows that movies have more violence in them than ever -- or at least, movie characters are more interested in talking about it.
Appeals court upholds US$5 million award in sexual abuse verdict against Donald Trump
A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a jury’s finding in a civil case that Donald Trump sexually abused a columnist in an upscale department store dressing room in the mid-1990s.
Gal Gadot reveals she underwent emergency surgery for brain clot just after welcoming her 4th child
Gal Gadot is opening up about how she survived a "massive blood clot" in her brain during her most recent pregnancy.
S&P/TSX composite down more than 200 points, U.S. markets fall
Canada's main stock index was down more than 200 points in late-morning trading Monday, led by weakness in technology and base metals, while U.S. markets also fell, led by a 1.4 per cent loss on the Nasdaq.
Passengers describe travel nightmare after WestJet flight from Costa Rica cancelled
It was a travel nightmare that left more than 100 passengers, including Ottawa residents, stranded in Costa Rica this week.