The film’s underlying idea illustrates that failure to be inclusive and genuinely behave towards one another with respect, civility and kindness will result in the breakdown of the social order, regardless of the language in which we express ourselves.

When we started working on this project, we realized the stark lack of diversity in the film industry. This new adaption of King Lear will not only showcase Canadian talent but, as each character will speak a different language, also reflect the unity of Canada’s diverse communities and explore the concept of language as a socio-political currency.

Production will take place in one location with simple but aesthetically beautiful art design, inspired by such films as Dogville and Vanya on 42nd Street.

We are thrilled to announce that Aleksey Serebryakov will star as King Lear!

Mr. Serebryakov is an acclaimed international star, who recently portrayed

Nikolay in Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Leviathan (2014 film)

which won best foreign language film at the

72nd Golden Globe Awards and was nominated for the Oscar!

2016 marks 400 years since the day Shakespeare died, and we are celebrating his life and work with this modern adaptation of one of his most famous plays.

The film invites much needed and relevant discussion on the topic of diversity in our increasingly global society. This new adaptation of King Lear makes a statement about the dynamics of hierarchy around the world and including here in Canada. In this world, as in our society, the multicultural arrangement appears to be working smoothly. However, upon closer examination, the society is dominated by the whims of the colonial, patriarchal oligarchy who wield all the power. This society is not as functional as it appears, and this dysfunction threatens to tear it apart at the seams. The societal harmony, like the love from Lear’s two eldest children, is merely an illusion.

Universal Grammar

Thematically, this piece will also touch on the work of Noam Chomsky, specifically his "Universal Grammar" theory. According to this theory, our brains contain a predefined system that is the basis for the acquisition of all language.  The human brain can be regarded as a kind of programmed machine ready to be configured.

 What We Need & What You Get

$45,000 will finance our production:  paying our cast and crew, location and equipment rentals, costumes and meals.
You will have a chance to be in our film, own a costume or our team can make a short video on the subject of your choice! Of course, we will make sure to thank you via the social media!

Illustration by Galina Gubchenko