Come join us to see this Oscar qualifying and award winning documentary on Friday, May 29, 2015 @ 7:00 p.m. in Vancouver Island University Theatre (Building 310)! Free parking in lots G & H.
This is the untold story of ‘bad-boy’ Johnny Cash, his talented but troubled manager, Saul Holiff, and a son searching for his father in the shadow of a legend. The Vancouver Island Mental Health Society (the new name for Columbian Centre) is honoured to have this unique opportunity to offer you an intimate evening with director Jonathan Holiff and present his award winning documentary that is directly related to the struggles of mental health.
We spoke with writer/producer/director Jonathan Holiff about My Father and the Man in Black on People First Radio. Listen to the interview below. Read on to find out more.
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The Man in Black was, of course, Johnny Cash. Saul Holiff (image above, right) was his long-time manager, a dedicated, remote, often cruel man who died by suicide and left his son with a lot of unanswered questions.
“My Father and the Man in Black” is about the singer Johnny Cash and his onetime manager Saul Holiff. But this troubling documentary is also about man and the black dog of depression, here including Mr. Holiff, Cash and the “my” of the title: the film’s director, Jonathan Holiff, who is Saul’s oldest, estranged son and who was named after Cash. — New York Times
Jonathan Holiff’s documentary is an investigation of his father’s life and that of the celebrity who dominated it for years. Both Cash and his manager were strong men with serious weaknesses; we learn of their triumphs and failures, their mutual resentment and envy, their troubled relationships with their families. The film is respectful but never hagiographic—it shows the good and the bad, the public and the painfully private.
Dr. Barnabas Walther, executive director of Vancouver island Mental Health Society, says the screening of the film “is a wonderful opportunity to raise funds and it aligns with our organization because the film is also about the struggle of mental health.” — Nanaimo Daily News
About Jonathan Holiff
Jonathan Holiff (writer/producer/director) made his directorial debut with the feature documentary My Father and the Man in Black. Since June 2012, the film has played more than 30 festivals, in 15 countries, winning 8 competitions. It was released in Canada, UK, and USA in September 2012. He will be in Nanaimo for this special screening of his film.
“I was there when Jonathan started on that journey. It was a torturous road. He was searching for himself. Or for his father and himself. This is a story of a father and a son. The Cash connection is the hook. But it is a very profound story. I found it heart wrenching, and yet Jonathan took great pains not to make it heart wrenching. He tried to make it dispassionate.” — Mark Stielper in the Village Voice
And on People First Radio…we speak with Jonathan Holiff about his experiences in creating “My Father and the Man in Black.”
Listen Thursday May 14, 2015 at noon Pacific on CHLY 101.7 FM.
Revisit this page on Friday May 15 to listen on-demand.
video, twitter
audio | award-winning documentary @JohnnyandSaul to screen in #Nanaimo @ColumbianCentre http://t.co/B2ItM2ZHNd pic.twitter.com/QrssgtkUeQ
— People First Radio (@peoplefirstrad) May 15, 2015
My Father and the Man in Black, with director @HoliffFame in #Nanaimo May 29 @ColumbianCentre http://t.co/p9zXfYOBZv pic.twitter.com/Sr1sNnH0NR
— People First Radio (@peoplefirstrad) April 29, 2015
