Wartime drama Passchendaele to open Toronto film fest

Actor and filmmaker Paul Gross's First World War drama Passchendaele has snagged one of the marquee slots at this year's Toronto International Film Festival: opening night.

Festival director and CEO Piers Handling announced the choice Tuesday morning.

"It is rare that Canadians get to experience their own histories via the moving image, particularly on the big screen," Handling said in a statement.

"We are honoured to open TIFF 2008 with a work as personal and passionate, as significant to both Canadian film and Canadian history as Passchendaele."

Gross — whose grandfather was a veteran of the 1917 battle — wrote, directed, produced and co-stars in Passchendaele, which will have its world premiere at TIFF.

The film tells the story of injured Canadian soldier Michael Dunne (Gross), who returns home to Alberta for his convalescence and falls in love. However, he decides to return to the front lines when his new love's younger brother enlists.

"The inspiration for doing it at all was my grandfather, and it was something I'd wanted to do for years," the 49-year-old Gross said in an interview Tuesday.

"My real interest in the war began with him, because he served there, and some elements of the story were his — pretty much everything except for the main romantic plot line. Almost everything was drawn from his diaries and narrative accounts from various soldiers."

Gross added that he hopes young Canadians will become interested in Canada's role in both world wars as a result of the movie.

"If you can get youth excited by a film, then they won't feel that great distance between themselves and history, and it will bring it closer. Their interest will actually be genuine."

Battles recreated in Alberta

In 2005, the Alberta government announced it was contributing $5.5 million to help get the $20-million feature started.

The majority of filming was done around Calgary, including battle scenes recreated on the Tsuu T'ina reserve. Scenes were also shot on Canadian Forces Base Suffield in southern Alberta.

Passchendaele also stars Caroline Dhavernas, Gil Bellows and Joe Dinicol.

The 33rd Toronto International Film Festival runs Sept. 4-13.