Toronto film fest to close with drama about Holocaust survivors

Emotional Arithmetic, a star-studded drama about the reunion of three Holocaust survivors, will close the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival, organizers announcedWednesday.

The film, based on the Matt Cohen novel of the same name, stars venerable Swedish actor Max von Sydow, Hollywood stalwarts Gabriel Byrne and Susan Sarandon and Canadians Christopher Plummer and Roy Dupuis.

Sarandon and Byrne portray survivors of a Second World War internment camp for Jews in France.

They make plans to reunite after discoveringthe political dissident (von Sydow) who had protected them at the camp did not die at Auschwitz as they had thought, and is still alive.

The past and the present collide as Sarandon's character battles depression, a volatile relationship with her philandering husband (Plummer) and coming to terms with her time in the camp.

"The inclusion of this powerful film reflects the robust nature of our industry," festival co-director Noah Cowan said in a statement.

Cowan also hailed Emotional Arithmetic,as well as this year's opening film, Fugitive Pieces, as "vibrant and high profile Canadian films."

Emotional Arithmetic,shot in Quebec in 2006, is directed by Paolo Barzman, who worked with Jefferson Lewis to adapt Cohen's 1990 novel.

Organizers announced on Tuesday an extensive lineup of Canadian feature-length and short films set for this year's 32nd annual edition of the festival, with the latest from David Cronenberg, Guy Maddin and Denys Arcand slated for various programs.

The Toronto International Film Festival runs Sept. 6-15.