“Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.”

Join us at the Rio Theatre on Monday, December 5 to celebrate the remarkable life and work of Canadian musician, poet, author, activist, icon and inspiration Leonard Cohen with a double bill honouring his incredible contributions. Documentary LEONARD COHEN: I’M YOUR MAN features interviews with Cohen as well as commentary and music from those he influenced, and will be double-billed with Robert Altman‘s masterful “revisionist Western” McCABE & MRS MILLER (Warren Beatty, Julie Christie). Shot in and around West Vancouver, McCABE AND MRS MILLER features three songs from Cohen, underscoring its moody and atmospheric tone. “The film is unimaginable to me without the Cohen songs, which function as these mournful interstitials that unify the entire movie.” (Scott Tobias, Rolling Stone)

Poet, singer / songwriter and ladies man Leonard Cohen is interviewed in his home about his life and times in Lian Lunson‘s 206 documentary. Woven through the career-spanning interview, the film is interspersed with archive photos and exuberant praise and live performances from an eclectic mix of musicians he has influenced, including: Jarvis Cocker, Rufus & Martha Wainwright, Teddy Thompson, Antony Hegarty, The Handsome Family, Beth Orton, Nick Cave, and U2‘s Bono and The Edge. Cohen speaks of his stately writing process; “savage criticisms” exchanged with fellow Montreal poets; the scene at the Chelsea Hotel; tea and oranges with the real Suzanne; his retreat to Mt. Baldy and more.

“Cohen is clearly a songwriter’s songwriter, and the resulting movie brims with an infectious passion for the man’s melodies and sardonic wit. Unfortunately, the performances are interspersed with interview footage that is much less captivating.” (BBC.com)

“You know it has to be coming, but when it does, ‘Suzanne’ almost stops time with its prayerful beauty.” (Seattle Times)

LEONARD COHEN: I’M YOUR MAN (Lian Lunson, 2006 / 98 minutes / ) A documentary on the legendary singer-songwriter, with performances by those musicians he has influenced.

McCABE & MRS. MILLER (Robert Altman, 1971 / 120 mins / 18A) A gambler and a prostitute become business partners in a remote Old West mining town, and their enterprise thrives until a large corporation arrives on the scene.