When Night is Falling

Celebrating its 30th Anniversary, Patricia Rozema’s third feature is considered both a Canadian classic and pivotal film in the LGTBQ+ canon.

The film centres on the story of Camille (Pascale Bussières), a professor at a Protestant college who is engaged to Martin (Henry Czerny), a respected minister and fellow professor.

As ‘career Christians’ they are urged to get married so that they can become co-chaplains of the New College of Faith. When Camille meets Petra (Rachael Crawford), a wry and flamboyant performer in a modern Fellini-esque circus troupe, she is inexplicably drawn. Camille pursues this sensual, dream-like woman, throwing her whole conservative life, not to mention her engagement, into disarray. Beautifully photographed by Douglas Koch, it’s a lesbian story catching a romantic wintry Toronto landscape.