Purple City

A fascinating exploration of the mythologies surrounding the hundred-year-old statue The Golden Boy. Incorporating dance, animation, and re-enactments, the film, directed by queer filmmakers and artists, imagines the lost identities of the models used for Parisian sculptor Georges Gardet​’s work Eternal Youth. From hermetic Greco-Roman cult to two-spirited heritage, this film, told from the filmmakers’ point of view, offers a unique perspective on Winnipeg’s famous mascot as seen from a rent-controlled building.

Directed by Michael Walker, Noam Gonick, Purple City leans on a strong ensemble — Chance Taylor, Michael O'Sullivan, Abdul Turay — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2023.