Roxana

Moze Mossanen (writer, director, producer)

Roxana is the first ever film adaptation of Daniel Defoe’s extraordinary 17th century novel exploring the world of an ambitious, modern day courtesan. Transposed into a 20th century setting, this sumptuous production stylishly integrates music, dance and drama to highlight the complex relationship between material ambition and sexuality. Beginning in the colourful and exotic world of the nightclub era of the late 1950s, and winding its way into the psychedelic costumes and settings of the 1960s, "Roxana" is directed by award winning director, Moze Mossanen, and stars many of the leading performers in the film and dance worlds, including Greta Hodgkinson, Rex Harrington, Christopher Body and Sheila McCarthy.

In the film, Roxana is a nightclub showgirl raising a seven year old girl on her own amidst a ramshackle existence. Roxana's friend, Amy (Sheila McCarthy), not only works at the same nightclub but also lives in the next apartment, allowing her a voyeuristic and secretive view into Roxana's carnal relationships. Over a period of time, Amy witnesses how Roxana manipulates these erotic affairs with increasing profit and success. Roxana"s victory, however, comes at a great personal cost and inadvertently leads to murder. Roxana was choreographed by Roberto Campanella.

Roxana

Roxana is the first ever film adaptation of Daniel Defoe’s extraordinary 17th century novel exploring the world of an ambitious, modern day courtesan. Transposed into a 20th century setting, this sumptuous production stylishly integrates music, dance and drama to highlight the complex relationship between material ambition and sexuality. Beginning in the colourful and exotic world of the nightclub era of the late 1950s, and winding its way into the psychedelic costumes and settings of the 1960s, "Roxana" is directed by award winning director, Moze Mossanen, and stars many of the leading performers in the film and dance worlds, including Greta Hodgkinson, Rex Harrington, Christopher Body and Sheila McCarthy.

In the film, Roxana is a nightclub showgirl raising a seven year old girl on her own amidst a ramshackle existence. Roxana's friend, Amy (Sheila McCarthy), not only works at the same nightclub but also lives in the next apartment, allowing her a voyeuristic and secretive view into Roxana's carnal relationships. Over a period of time, Amy witnesses how Roxana manipulates these erotic affairs with increasing profit and success. Roxana"s victory, however, comes at a great personal cost and inadvertently leads to murder. Roxana was choreographed by Roberto Campanella.

Moze Mossanen (writer, director, producer)

Moze Mossanen is an award-winning director whose innovative work has included films with a unique mix of drama, dance and music. Some of his works include "Dance for Modern Times" which was acknowledged as one of the best dance films ever made in Canada; "The Dancemakers", an original series of six half-hour programs on contemporary Canadian choreographers; "The Golden City", and "My Gentleman Friends", both of which received Gemini nominations for directing and writing, respectively. The latter was singled out as one of the outstanding dramatic programs of the 1999 Canadian television season.

The CBC and Bravo! broadcast the world premiere of his film, "The Rings of Saturn", in January, 2002 which was received with much popular and critical acclaim. "Year of the Lion", which aired on CBC and Bravo! In 2003, won the Jury Prize at the Yorkton Film Festival and was also nominated for five Gemini Awards, winning three awards for cinematography, editing and original score. Bravo! also aired an evening-long retrospective of his film works in March, 2004 which coincided with the premiere of his film, "From Time to Time". The film was selected for competition at the prestigious FIPA festival in Biarritz in January 2005 and was also nominated for three Gemini Awards. His most recent film, "Roxana", is loosely based on the novel by Daniel Defoe and will be released in the fall of 2006. "Roxana" was also most recently selected for competition at the FIPA festival which will take place in January 2007 in Biarritz.

For additional Director’s Notes on Roxana, click here.
For a complete list of cast and crew, click here.
To read the blog about the making of Roxana, click here.

Still from Blue by Elif Isikozlu.

© Moving Pictures Festival 2006
info@movingpicturesfestival.com

Moze Mossanen is an award-winning director whose innovative work has included films with a unique mix of drama, dance and music. Some of his works include "Dance for Modern Times" which was acknowledged as one of the best dance films ever made in Canada; "The Dancemakers", an original series of six half-hour programs on contemporary Canadian choreographers; "The Golden City", and "My Gentleman Friends", both of which received Gemini nominations for directing and writing, respectively. The latter was singled out as one of the outstanding dramatic programs of the 1999 Canadian television season.

The CBC and Bravo! broadcast the world premiere of his film, "The Rings of Saturn", in January, 2002 which was received with much popular and critical acclaim. "Year of the Lion", which aired on CBC and Bravo! In 2003, won the Jury Prize at the Yorkton Film Festival and was also nominated for five Gemini Awards, winning three awards for cinematography, editing and original score. Bravo! also aired an evening-long retrospective of his film works in March, 2004 which coincided with the premiere of his film, "From Time to Time". The film was selected for competition at the prestigious FIPA festival in Biarritz in January 2005 and was also nominated for three Gemini Awards. His most recent film, "Roxana", is loosely based on the novel by Daniel Defoe and will be released in the fall of 2006. "Roxana" was also most recently selected for competition at the FIPA festival which will take place in January 2007 in Biarritz.

For additional Director’s Notes on Roxana, click here.
For a complete list of cast and crew, click here.
To read the blog about the making of Roxana, click here.