Special Film Screening: The Geographies of DAR


Date: Apr 10
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Where: Theatre
Film

The Geographies of DAR is a captivating film that explores the life and literary works of renowned Canadian author David Adams Richards.

Through stunning visuals, insightful interviews and excerpts from his writings, the film uncovers the profound connection between Richards’ personal experiences and Eastern Canada’s Miramichi, the region that shaped his storytelling.

The masterful cinematography showcases the harsh yet beautiful landscapes of Richards’ Miramichi, taking viewers on a journey through the complex lives of his characters, marked by destruction, freedom and redemption.

Richards opens up about his childhood, his struggles and demons, and his unwavering belief in God, providing candid and perceptive insights into cruelty, love, faith and the human experience.

This poignant film is an elegy to the joys, suffering, mercies and beauty of life, celebrating the indomitable spirit and courage of this extraordinary Canadian writer.

This is a free event but a ticket is required. Please reserve your free ticket online or by calling (709) 757-8090.

About the Filmmaker

Director, actress, screenwriter, writer and producer Monique LeBlanc is a prominent figure in Eastern Canada’s film industry, working in both documentary and fiction.

Through a powerful dialogue between image and word, her films explore the worlds of painters, musicians and writers, as well as ordinary people confronted with poverty, racism or exile. From shantytowns to concentration camps, from border crossings to vast wilderness, Monique LeBlanc’s works weave different stories together, delving into the intricate complexities of human relationships and offering a vivid portrayal of contemporary societies.

Her credits include collaborations with the National Film Board, CBC, Bravo, the History Channel and the Movie Network. Notably, her adaptation of Louise Dupré’s acclaimed book of poetry, Higher Than Flames Will Go (2020), stands as a cinematic tour de force.

Geographies of DAR is her fourth feature documentary and fifth collaboration with the NFB.

Presented by The Rooms and the National Film Board of Canada.

Today's Events & Programs

1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Winter may be here, but there’s no need to stay home!

Join us at The Rooms to exercise and socialize during this colder and drearier time of year. While strolling throughout the building and enjoying both the exhibitions and the views, participants will focus on a different spotlight item from our collection each week. After our stroll, staff will lead a brief discussion on the weekly spotlight, and then everyone is encouraged to stay and socialize with friends new and old.

Following the Senior's Stroll, we will open our art gallery classroom for a guided art activity. All materials are provided, and everyone is welcome to attend.

No registration is needed. Included with the cost of admission ($7.80 plus HST for seniors), free for members.

For further information, please contact catherineoneill@therooms.ca

7:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Tour

Peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador

Stroll across land and sea, and through time, to meet the peoples who have made Newfoundland and Labrador home for the past 9,000 years.

Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

In this conversation, writers and educators Rhea Rollmann and Daze Jefferies explore the possibilities of queer and trans worldmaking that are present across Erica Rutherford and Matthew-Robin Nye’s art and exhibitions. With specific attention to depictions of the child and childhood, and to the value of wonder in today's world, they reflect on the lived experiences, hopes, and dreams of trans and gender creative youth in Atlantic Canada.

This is a free program but a ticket is required. Please reserve your free ticket online or by calling 709-757-8090.

Rhea Rollmann (she/her) is an award-winning journalist, writer and audio producer based in St. John's, NL, and is the author of A Queer History of Newfoundland (Engen Books, 2023). She is a founding editor of The Independent NL and her journalism has appeared in Briarpatch Magazine, CBC, Xtra Magazine, Chatelaine, PopMatters, Riddle Fence, Macleans and more. Her academic work has been published in the Journal of Gender Studies, Labor Studies Journal, Canadian Woman Studies, Journal of Work and Society, Canadian Theatre Review, Canadian Review of Sociology, Screen Bodies and elsewhere. She also has an extensive background in labour organizing and queer/trans activism, and she is Station Manager at CHMR-FM, a community radio station in St. John's. 

 

Daze Jefferies (she/her) is a white settler artist, writer, and educator based in Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland). Her multidisciplinary, research-based practice explores queer, trans, and sex worker embodiments, counter-histories, and intergenerational relationships in Atlantic Canada. Her work has been exhibited and performed at The Rooms, Eastern Edge Artist-Run-Centre, and the Grenfell Art Gallery, with upcoming exhibitions at Union House Arts and the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador Gallery. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2023 Emerging Artist Award and 2025 Milestone Award from VANL-CARFAC.

 

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

A new year – a new round of trivia! Get your thinking caps on, settle in with your friends and get ready for some exciting Trivia!

Join host Ramona Dearing for an evening of questions inspired by the history, geography, and the culture of the province.

Teams of 2-6 people. Cash bar available and Prizes!

Ramona Dearing is a writer and a retired host of CBC Radio’s CrossTalk and its popular Trivia editions.

Tickets: $12 plus HST. 10% discount for Rooms members. Get your tickets online or by calling 709-757-8090.