The fourth feature film from Humber Polytechnic professor Kazik Radwanski was an official selection at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival and recently made its theatrical debut.  

Radwanski, who’s a professor in Humber’s Film and Television Production program, premiered his most recent film Matt and Mara at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year and the film went on to have its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. This fall, the film has hit cinemas and is touring more than 40 theatrical engagements at cities across Canada and the United States.  

The film reunites a pair of actors from Radwanski’s third film, the award-winning Anne at 13,000 ft, in Deragh Campbell (Mara) and Matt Johnson (Matt). Radwanski, who wrote and directed Matt and Mara, was intrigued by the on-screen chemistry between the two in his previous film and wanted to capture that dynamic in his new work.  

Johnson is known as a comedic actor and Campbell is more on the dramatic side and putting the two together was exciting for Radwanski.  

“It felt like there was a whole film there of just those two crashing into each other,” said Radwanski. “They’re kind of total opposites and Deragh is the perfect foil to Matt, who’s so big and charismatic. But Deragh can cut through that and ground a scene while also challenging Matt, which takes the film to interesting places.”  

“It’s about finding these moments where there’s a spark that just goes a bit beyond words,” continued Radwanski. “There’s a certain complexity to the conversations with shifts of dynamic between Deragh and Matt. I find it fascinating to watch and it’s my instinct other people will have similar reactions.”  

The film follows Matt and Mara, who were friends in university years ago. Mara is a married creative writing professor with a toddler when Matt, a successful author, finds himself in her classroom. The two reconnect over their shared past and interests. When Mara’s husband unexpectedly cancels plans to drive her to a conference out of town, Matt accompanies her instead and the pressure in their undefined relationship continues to build. 

Radwanski says the film explores the two characters as they navigate a brief but stirring emotional affair. Although it never turns physical, it’s the sort of experience that can haunt those involved long after it has ended.  

He feels Matt and Mara is somewhat less frenetic and more conversational than his previous films and said he wanted the audience to be pulled into the on-screen conversations. The characters might be less troubled than in his other works. They’re still struggling but in a softer way, he said.

But they come across as real people to the audience. He’s heard people leaving the theatre asking each other “are you a Matt or a Mara?”

Radwanski is the co-founder of Toronto-based production company MDFF. His previous films include Anne at 13,000 ft, which was awarded the Rogers Best Canadian Film Award from the Toronto Film Critics Association, Tower, and How Heavy This Hammer.