ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Dryden Theatre at George Eastman House International Museum of Photography & Film welcomes Oscar®-nominated filmmaker and George Eastman Honorary Scholar James Ivory (Room with a View, Remains of the Day, Howard's End) on Saturday, April 6, as part of the ongoing celebrating of the reopening of the renovated Dryden Theatre. At 8 p.m. he will introduce his 1995 film Jefferson in Paris and engage in a Q&A with the audience following the screening. Tickets are $12 general admission and $10 for students and are on sale now.
In conjunction with his visit, a Dryden series of Ivory's films will be screened every Wednesday in April, featuring films from the Merchant Ivory Productions archive preserved at Eastman House, which includes more than 3,000 objects. The featured titles of the series are Mr. & Mrs. Bridge (1990), Maurice (1987), Roseland (1977), and The Householder (1963).
Merchant Ivory Productions is a partnership that formed in 1963, between director Ivory, producer Ismail Merchant, and writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. Their partnership, best known for adaptations, remains unequaled in film history, not only for its long-lasting nature, but also for the passion of the three individuals involved. Under the banner of Merchant Ivory Productions, Ivory directed more than 30 films that exercised his deep love for storytelling and his passion for the collaborative process.
"Ismail Merchant's worry for years was that all those films of ours, made in so many places, stored in so many labs around the world, would never be brought safely home and might be lost," Ivory said. "Now the George Eastman House motion picture archive is that home, safeguarding the continuing life of Merchant Ivory's work for the next generations."
When Ivory and Eastman House announced the acquisition of the Merchant Ivory collection in 2010, Ivory visited Eastman House and was awarded the title of George Eastman Honorary Scholar. Others holding that title include Dennis Hopper, Tony Curtis, John Frankenheimer, Ken Burns, and Jeff Bridges.
About Jefferson in Paris
Tackling the story of one of history's most enigmatic figures, Ivory and Jhabvala lend their unique visions to the true story of Thomas Jefferson's relationship with Sally Hemings. During his time as Representative to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Jefferson is entangled in an affair with a married woman. When his daughter returns from France, he is drawn into another affair-this time with his daughter's slave. Ivory's portrait of this conflicted and contradictory character exhibits his versatile and insightful storytelling abilities.
The films of the James Ivory series at the Dryden
Wednesday, April 3, 8p.m. MR. & MRS. BRIDGE
(James Ivory, US 1990, 126 min.)
Saturday, April 6, 8p.m. JEFFERSON IN PARIS
(*Ivory in person/special pricing) (James Ivory, France/US 1995, 139 min.,
English and French w/subtitles)
Wednesday, April 10, 8p.m. ROSELAND
(James Ivory, US 1977, 104 min.)
Wednesday, April 17, 8p.m. MAURICE
(James Ivory, UK 1987, 140 min.)
Wednesday, April 24, 8p.m. THE HOUSEHOLDER
(James Ivory, India 1963, 101 min.)
Tickets to all screenings but Jefferson in Paris are $8 general/$6 students and will be sold at the door. For Ivory's visit and Jefferson in Paris on April 6, reserved seats are $12 general admission and $10 for students. Tickets will be sold at the door (if not sold out), with advance tickets on sale now in person at Eastman House or online at eastmanhouse.org. For more information, please call (585) 271-3361 or visit dryden.eastmanhouse.org.
