Leaving November 1

Directed by David Secter | 82 mins | 1965
A landmark in the Canadian film industry as the first English-language film from the country to screen at the Cannes Film Festival and a pioneering work of LGBTQ+ cinema, Secter’s keenly observed, shoestring budget drama stars John Labow and Henry Tarvainen as Doug and Peter, two University of Toronto undergraduates cut from very different cloth—Doug is outgoing and spontaneous, Peter quiet and bookish—whose unlikely friendship gradually takes on an unmistakable air of romantic longing. A film of grace, substantive characterizations, and considerable breezy charm whose admirers included 22-year-old U of T student David Cronenberg, who has credited its influence with his decision to become a filmmaker.

"Winter Kept Us Warm" was scanned and restored in 4K from the original 16mm A/B negatives by Canadian International Pictures with funding provided by Telefilm Canada.