Life of Pi opens with select screening in Saskatoon

CBC News

Posted: Nov 19, 2012 6:56 PM ET

Last Updated: Nov 19, 2012 11:11 PM ET

Yann Martel's Life of Pi, a new motion picture by acclaimed filmmaker Ang Lee, was screened for a select audience Monday night in Saskatoon.

The movie, based upon the novel by Saskatoon-based author Martel, follows a boy and a tiger and their adventures on the high seas.

The North American release of the film is set for Wednesday.

Saskatoon-based author Yann Martel screens Life of Pi Monday night for family and friends. (Supplied to CBC)

The Saskatoon sneak preview was arranged so Martel could show the movie to friends and family.

Prior to the screening he told CBC News that fans of the award-winning novel should not compare the movie directly to the book.

He says the strongest connection between the film and the novel is the spirit of adventure.

"You should take the movie for what it is [and] what it has to offer," Martel said. "In this case: it's absolutely stupendous visuals [and] a lovely visual poetry. It makes incarnate what you may have read hazily in the book."

Martel has lived in Saskatoon since about 2004.

He moved west, from Montreal, in the spirit of adventure and said he fell in love with Saskatchewan.

Life of Pi was inspired by a backpacking tour he made of India, on a shoe-string budget.

With files from CBC's Britainy Robinson

Stay Connected with CBC News

Big Box Advertisement

Pushing Chinese stars beyond gimmick Hollywood roles by Jessica Wong May. 22, 2013 4:49 PM Li Bingbing is the latest comely Chinese face joining a major Hollywood production -- in this case, Michael Bay's fourth instalment of Transformers. With Hollywood eager to tap into China's massive movie-going audience, it's become de rigueur to score a beautiful and popular Chinese actress for tentpole movies. However, some Chinese moviegoers want more than gimmicky roles for their homegrown stars and nonsensical cuts of blockbusters screened in China alone.

Top News Headlines

2nd suspect named in Tim Bosma slaying: The second suspect arrested in the Tim Bosma slaying has been identified as Mark Smich, 25, of Oakville, Ont., Supt. Dan Kinsella of Hamilton police announced Wednesday afternoon. more »

Harper 'not consulted' about Duffy Senate expense repayment: Prime Minister Stephen Harper says that not only did he not know about his chief of staff's "gift" to repay Senator Mike Duffy's expenses before the story broke in the media, he was not consulted and did not sign off on Nigel Wright's decision to write a personal cheque. more »
2 infants confirmed among dead of Oklahoma tornado: Rescue workers raced to complete the search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb where a mammoth tornado destroyed countless homes, cleared lots down to bare red earth and claimed 24 lives, including those of 10 children. more »
'You will see him again in heaven,' Sharlene Bosma tells daughter: Sharlene Bosma told more than 1,000 people at the public memorial service for her slain husband, Tim Bosma, about the love they shared. more »
Mayor Ford stays silent while his brother defends him: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford continues to stonewall the media over allegations that he was recorded on video smoking what appears to be crack cocaine, but his brother Coun. Doug Ford told reporters Wednesday that the story is untrue. more »

Must Watch

Latest Arts & Entertainment News Headlines

Aretha Franklin cancels Canadian shows: Aretha Franklin is extending her current break and has cancelled performances for the month of June, including apperances in Montreal and Ottawa. more »

Beatles lyrics donated to British Library: The British Library on Wednesday added substantially to its already formidable collection with handwritten lyrics to Beatles' classics Strawberry Fields Forever, She Said She Said and In My Life. more »
Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart crack jokes about Rob Ford: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's woes over crack cocaine allegations are providing plenty of late-night TV fodder for Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart and other comedians south of the border. more »
Lydia Davis wins $93K Man Booker International Prize: Lydia Davis, an American writer of short stories —some of them just a single line long — has won the £60,000 ($93,230 Cdn) Man Booker International Prize. more »
Battle of the Blades back in CBC fall-winter lineup: CBC-TV has released a fall lineup that includes the return of Battle of the Blades and new international co-production Crossing Lines. more »

More Headlines »

Q Blog

Dan Brown's bizarre rituals May. 22, 2013 11:03 AM The author discusses his new novel, Inferno, and the ritual he performs when launching another book.

CBC Books

Juvenile inmates benefiting from Russian literature May. 22, 2013 4:21 PM A juvenile correctional facility in Virginia has seen the behavioural benefits of encouraging their inmates to read the works of classic Russian writers like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky.