Patricia Rozema
About
Biography
Biography
Patricia Rozema (ROSE-ah-ma) achieved prominence with her first feature film, "I've Heard the Mermaids Singing" (1987). Born to Dutch immigrants in a small town in Ontario, Canada, she was raised as a strict Calvinist and did not see her first film until she was a teenager. After graduating from Calvin College in Michigan, Rozema returned to Canada to work on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's nightly news program "The Journal." She first worked in films as an assistant to producer-director Don Owen on his feature "Unfinished Business" in 1983. After taking a five-week night course in film production, Rozema directed two shorts, "Urban Menace" (1984) and the award-winning "Passion: A Letter in 16mm" (1985). She gained further experience working as 3rd assistant director on David Cronenberg's 1986 remake of "The Fly."
"I've Heard the Mermaids Singing," Rozema's first full-length feature, gained critical praise and attention when it debuted at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival. Centering on a secretary (played by Sheila McCarthy) with an active fantasy life (depicted in grainy black-and-white sequences), the film explores themes of repression, identity and lives half-lived. The timid woman, an amateur photographer, becomes the object of attention of a lesbian gallery owner and learns lessons about the superficiality of the art world. Her second feature, "The White Room" (1990), premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Expanding on the themes of artistic repression, dream imagery and secrets, it earned critical praise but gained a limited release in the USA.
After contributing a segment to the omnibus salute to Montreal's 350th anniversary, "Montreal Vu Par . . ." (1991), Rozema directed her third feature, "When Night Is Falling" (1995), about a teacher at a Calvinist college who becomes torn between her love for a fellow teacher and her desire for a black female circus performer. Once again, the director employed dream sequences, religious repression and sexual manipulation. The US ratings board (the MPAA) slapped the film with an "NC-17" rating ostensibly for its sex scenes. The director refused to edit the film and it was released without a rating.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Assistant Direction (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Editing (Feature Film)
Film Production - Main (Feature Film)
Special Thanks (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Director (Special)
Life Events
1981
Worked at CBC nightly news program "The Journal"
1983
First feature credit, as assistant to producer-director Don Owen on "Unfinished Business"
1984
Made first short film, "Urban Menace"
1985
Studied filmmaking in five-week course
1986
Short film "Passion: A Letter in 16mm" won second prize at Chicago Film Festival
1986
Worked as third assistant director to David Cronenberg on "The Fly"
1987
Feature directing debut, "I've Heard the Mermaids Singing"
1990
Directed and wrote "The White Room"; also co-produced
1995
Directed third feature "When Night is Falling"
1998
Won an Emmy for the 'Six Gestures' segment of the limited series "Yo-Yo Ma Inspired by Bach"
1999
Wrote and directed the adaptation of Jane Austen's "Mansfield Park"
2000
Directed an adaptation of Samuel Beckett's "Happy Days"
2007
Executive produced the HBO series, "Tell Me You Love Me"; also directed episodes
2008
Directed "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl"; based on the popular line of dolls
