Another screening of Matt Ottley's 'The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness'

Followed by a Q+A and performance in The Write Gallery

Wednesday 28th February 2024 - 5:00pm for 5:30pm

The Lighthouse Toowoomba is immensely proud to announce a second screening of Matt Ottley's truly incredible The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness film at The Strand Cinema, followed by a Q+A session with Matt at The Write Gallery.

The 50-minute film of The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness was created by Matt Ottley to offer a further sensory insight into the experiences of one boy’s journey into mental illness. Matt wants people to be able to ‘feel’ what psychosis is like at a visceral level. He produced the music and the book first, then created the film, realising that this would be the perfect format for people to fully appreciate the breadth and depth of the work.

The film combines footage of the recording of the work (by Brno Philharmonic Orchestra and the Czech Philharmonic Choir of Brno), along with the narrated text and imagery from the book reframed by Matt in a ‘Ken Burns’-like cinematic treatment, all set to the symphonic work. At a time when the world is moving so fast, this film invites audiences to slow down and immerse themselves in the painted images and the music, and so to be drawn deeply into the young boy’s journey. Its aim is to both spark and encourage ongoing discussion around its various challenging themes, and offer reassurance to young people and adults struggling with the social isolation so often associated with mental illness.

This film was awarded a ‘Special Mention’ at the 2023 Bologna Ragazzi Cross Media Award.

Events starts 5:00pm with refreshments available for purchase at The Strand Cinema

5:30pm screening
The Write Gallery

6:30pm
Q+A with Matt Ottley

Tickets are no longer available for this event.

Note that the exhibition is open until Thursday 29 February.

Entry to the exhibition is free.