Atom Egoyan’s stylish, hypnotic puzzle of a film centred around a strip-club where a group of characters intertwine and their histories and traumas are slowly revealed.

Francis (Bruce Greenwood) a deeply depressed tax auditor spends his evenings at Exotica obsessed with a young dancer, Christina (Mia Kirshner), with whom he has developed a curious emotional relationship. Around them are Christina’s former partner and club MC, Eric (Elias Koteas), Zoe (Arsinée Khanjian) the club’s owner who is pregnant by Eric, and Thomas (Don McKellar) a smuggler of rare bird eggs who is under investigation by Francis. As the story unfolds the characters are gradually deconstructed; flashbacks, reflections, and shifts in perspective continually re-frame our assumptions and give rise to new and unsettling implications.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Exotica was Atom Egoyan’s international and commercial breakthrough; with his latest film, Seven Veils due for release this year, its a perfect opportunity to see this signature work from one of cinema’s most acclaimed and distinctive auteurs.

Lost Reels is proud to present this seminal film from an original 35mm release print.

The screening on 6 April was followed by a online Q&A with writer/director Atom Egoyan, hosted by critic Jonathan Romney, author of Atom Egoyan (BFI World Directors Series).