Bleak Week: EXOTICA (1995) – Presented on 35mm – Q&A with director ATOM EGOYAN!
Runtime: 103 mins | Release Year: 1994 | Rating: R | Genre(s): Drama
Production Country: Canada | Original Language: English
In the upscale Toronto strip club Exotica, dancer Christina is visited nightly by the obsessive Francis, a depressed tax auditor. Her ex-boyfriend, the club’s MC, Eric, still jealously pines for her even as he introduces her onstage, but Eric is having his own relationship problems with the club’s female owner. Thomas, a mysterious pet-shop owner, is about to become unexpectedly involved in their lives.
Showtimes
Q&A WITH DIRECTOR ATOM EGOYAN! PRESENTED ON 35MM!
Moderated by journalist SAFFRON MAEVE!
Presented in partnership with the American Cinematheque, ‘Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair’ is an annual film festival showcasing some of the greatest works of cinema from across the globe that venture into the darkest sides of humanity and the bleakest points in human history.
The fifth annual edition in June 2026 expands to nearly 100 theaters across the U.S., Canada, U.K. and South and Central America, with each venue presenting its own original curated lineup of uncompromising films defined by unpleasant truths and raw empathy.
In the upscale Toronto strip club Exotica, dancer Christina is visited nightly by the obsessive Francis, a depressed tax auditor. Her ex-boyfriend, the club’s MC, Eric, still jealously pines for her even as he introduces her onstage, but Eric is having his own relationship problems with the club’s female owner. Thomas, a mysterious pet-shop owner, is about to become unexpectedly involved in their lives.
Part of the Bleak Week: Cinema of Despair series!
Cast/Crew Info
Director: Atom Egoyan | Cast: Bruce Greenwood, Mia Kirshner, Don McKellar, Sarah Polley, Victor Garber