andPOP » paul bernardo

Montreal Film Festival Pulls Screening of ‘Karla’

andPOP Staff — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 12:03:41 +0000

The Montreal World Film Festival has cancelled plans to screen the controversial film Karla after sponsors threatened to withdraw funds.

The festival had previously announced plans to host the Canadian premiere of the Karla Homolka/Paul Bernardo bio-pic.

“Half a dozen sponsors were going to pull their money,” said a source who had spoken to festival president Serge Losique. The most notable pressure came from Air Canada, as is being reported by The Globe and Mail.

“Air Canada informed the [Montreal World Film Festival] last week that it is cancelling its sponsorship of the event as a result of the festival’s decision to screen Karla,” Duncan Dee, a senior vice-president at Air Canada, said in an email to Marsha Boulton, the wife of Stephen Williams, author of two books about the Homolka-Bernardo case.

“In light of the reaction to its proposed showing of the film Karla, and the discomfort expressed by clients of its sponsors, MWFF organisers have decided against presenting the film,” organizers said Wednesday in a statement.

The festival runs from Aug. 26 to Sept. 5.

Homolka Movie To Debut At Montreal Film Fest

andPOP Staff — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 16:14:37 +0000

A controversial film about the sex slayings committed by Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo will premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival, the festival announced Monday.

The American film will be screened between August 26 and September 5 and has already motivated several protests. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has even encouraged people to boycott the film.

The movie, previously titled “Deadly”, has been renamed “Karla”.

“The purpose of the director Joel Bender is an extreme close-up of Karla Homolka and her role as half of Canada’s most infamous couple,” the festival said in a statement. “How could a woman be so much in love with a man that she became an accomplice in a series of horrific murders?”

Laura Prepon, Donna of “That 70’s Show”, plays Homolka, while Misha Collins, of the TV show “24″, portrays Bernardo.

The $5-million film was to have been released in late June, to coincide with Homolka’s release from a Montreal area prison on July 5. After public outcry, the film’s producer, Michael Sellers, announced the release date would be pushed back to the fall.

“Karla coming out must be difficult for (the families),” says Sellers. “Having to deal with this (screening) at the same time as dealing with that … I just feel like we shouldn’t do it unless we really have a need to.”

However, Sellers still stands by the film, pointing out that Hollywood churns out acclaimed true crime films – most recently the Oscar-winning “Monster” about serial killer Aileen Wuornos.

“I’m not saying we weren’t aware there would be controversy,” he told CTV in March. “But we have made a legitimate film.”

Homolka was sentenced in 1993 to 12 years in prison for the murders of Ontario schoolgirls Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French and her role in the death of her sister, Tammy Homolka.

Bernardo was sentenced to life in prison in 1995 and has been declared a dangerous offender.

Homolka is currently living in anonymity on the island of Montreal.

The Barbie And Ken Of Serial Killers To Be Chronicled In Deadly

andPOP Staff — Wed, 04 May 2005 10:27:15 +0000

The life and crimes of Canada’s worst serial killing couple, Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo will be chronicled and debut in the United States later this year after likely hitting the Canadian cinemas first. The Hollywood film entitled Deadly will not come without controversy.

That 70?s Show star Laura Prepon, and Misha Collins will play the Barbie and Ken of serial murder respectively. The film?s initial release date in Canada will roughly coincide with Karla Homolka?s release from prison in July and according to Ontario?s Consumer Services Minister James Watson, there is absolutely nothing the province can do to thwart the film?s release based on the grounds that the heinous crimes took place within the province, and nor does the film review board have the power to fasten on a prohibitive rating in Ontario.

Deadly has been taking a heavy bashing prior to its release from many individuals including Ontario Premiere Dalton McGuinty who said, “I certainly will not be viewing that movie?and my advice is that others do the same.”

Joining in to the prerelease bashing club was the father of schoolgirl killer Karla Homolka who was quoted as saying, “I don’t want to see it?I don’t want to go through all this anymore, that’s why.”

In addition, the families of murdered schoolgirls Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy were represented by a lawyer who was quoted as saying, “My clients are very disturbed that a movie is being made and someone wishes to profit from the tragedy they experienced.”

Hollywood producer Michael Sellers acknowledges the controversy of his film, but also feels that true crime films are merited in Hollywood tradition, as was Oscar-winning film Monster, which chronicled the real life story of a female serial killer?s heinous acts of violence. Sellers has emphasized that our intention behind this movie is to encourage ‘Predator Awareness.’

Seller stated, “I also made a commitment to myself to do nothing to dishonor the memory of the victims.”

Deadly, debuting first in Canadian theatres as early as July and then U.S. theatres in early fall; will truly continue to bring about uproar as the release time ticks nearer.