FRI, FEB 5 / 7 pm
Dir. Richard Stringer | 2007 | Canada | 64 min
Introduced by Bob Lower
Arctic missionary Bishop Isaac O.Stringer was once so desperately hungry during a northern canoe trip that he was forced to eat his moccasins to stay alive. This famous incident later became the inspiration for the “boot eating scene” in Charlie Chaplin’s film The Gold Rush. The Bishop Who Ate His Boots is a remarkable new film from by former Winnipegger and pioneer Canadian cinematographer, Richard Stringer. Prior his sudden passing in 2007, Stringer was working on a new film about his grandfather, Bishop Isaac O.Stringer; an adventurous missionary who worked and lived in the Arctic from 1905-1930. Packed with rare photos and archival footage from the 1920’s and 30’s the film explores the history of the Anglican missionary in the frozen wastes of the Canadian Northwest. Despite his illness, Richard was able to get the film to a rough cut with Kelly Saxberg. After his death, editor Zo and producer David Springbett completed this version of the film in Victoria.
ABOUT BOB LOWER:
Born and raised in Manitoba, Bob Lower has been cutting film for forty years, returning to his native Winnipeg in 1971 after learning the art of film editing in Toronto. He has extensive experience directing, editing and writing as well as editing dramas and has worked on many acclaimed Winnipeg films. He met Richard Stringer in 1968 and they worked together as crew on many films and collaborated as director/editor/cameraman on several films in the 70’s and 80’s. He also helped Stringer record a few interviews included in The Bishop Who Ate His Boots.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Winnipeg Film Group gratefully acknowledges the funding support of The Beaver: Canada’s History Magazine, Manitoba Film and Music, and Saint Margaret’s Anglican Church of Winnipeg for sponsoring our In the Shadow of the Company series
