Winter Kept Us Warm

Leaving his small town to attend university in Toronto, introspective freshman Peter finds a campus steeped in tradition, but one also waking up to the radical politics of the 1960s. He connects with the handsome and cocksure sophomore Doug, who quickly introduces Peter to city and college life. But as their bond grows, Doug’s girlfriend Bev feels increasingly cast aside and begins to question the nature of this friendship. Tensions come to a head when Peter starts dating Sandra, forcing Doug to confront his true feelings and desires. The film’s aesthetics, supported by a breezy jazz score, are as youthful as the then 22-year-old director. Hailed as Canada’s first queer film and the country’s first English-language entry in competition at Cannes, ‘Winter Kept Us Warm’ took risks at a time when homosexuality was still criminalized.

CA 1965, director: David Secter, 82 min, OV (EN)

Introduction: Yaël Halbron (Revenante Films)