THE HEIRLOOM
Dir. Ben Petrie, 2024.
Canada. 87 min.
In English.

Preceded by:
HER FRIEND ADAM
Dir. Ben Petrie, 2016.
Canada. 17 min.
In English.

FRIDAY, MARCH 21 - 7:30 p.m. w/ Q&A moderated by Matt Johnson
SATURDAY, MARCH 22 - 7:30 p.m. w/ Q&A moderated by Charlotte Wells
SUNDAY, MARCH 23 - 5:00 p.m. w/ Q&A moderated by Veronika Slowikowska
MONDAY, MARCH 24 - 10:00 p.m. w/ Q&A moderated by Nate Wilson
TUESDAY, MARCH 25 - 7:30 p.m. w/ Q&A moderated by Jay Giampietro
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26 - 10:00 p.m. w/ Q&A moderated by Zach Clark
THURSDAY, MARCH 27 - 7:30 p.m. w/ Q&A moderated by Mary Neely

A desperate filmmaker is seized by inspiration when he and his girlfriend adopt a traumatized rescue dog.

After its international premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2024, Spectacle is thrilled to welcome Canadian filmmaker Ben Petrie for the U.S. premiere of his first feature, THE HEIRLOOM. Petrie is returning to Spectacle after an appearance for his role in THE ALL GOLDEN, which played at the theater in 2023.

Combining dry wit, neuroticism, and disorienting experimentation, THE HEIRLOOM has something for everyone who has ever adopted a dog, been in a long-term relationship, or made a movie. Particularly, this film scrutinizes the purported irreconcilability of domesticity with creative passions. A triumph of autofiction, it is based on the real-life rescue dog adoption experience of Ben Petrie and his wife, rising star Grace Glowicki. The filmmaker describes THE HEIRLOOM as a "psycho-therapeutic reenactment" of this period in their relationship. Both lead performances are gripping, not to mention the fantastic work of Cheers the dog as Milly.

Throughout its week-long run, the filmmaker will appear each night for in-person Q&As with various moderators including Matt Johnson (BLACKBERRY; THE DIRTIES) and Charlotte Wells (AFTERSUN).