Of all the filmmakers connected to the Toronto New Wave, Peter Lynch—the man responsible for the Genie award-winning short Arrowhead, the now cult classic Project Grizzly, as well as The Herd and Cyberman—has most frequently taken the road less travelled. (His only competition in this regard would be Peter Mettler.)

In conventional terms, Lynch could best be described as a documentary filmmaker, but it's hardly a label that fits comfortably. Throughout his career, Lynch has pushed the boundaries of the documentary format, employing re-enactments, fantasy segments, personal essays, and experimental techniques, sometimes structuring his films according to genres like the western, and often consciously alluding to fiction works (see the opening shot of Project Grizzly, an homage to Fellini's La Dolce Vita), all the while making surreal short tableaux like Animal Nightmares and last year's A Short Film About Falling. (Lynch has worked exclusively with editor Caroline Christie, his key collaborator. Christie's ability to balance complex strains and motifs has been absolutely crucial to the success of his work.)

Featured Works:

The Lost Weekend (Billy Wilder, 1945); Arrowhead (1993); Project Grizzly (1996, pictured); The Herd (1998); Cyberman (2001); Animal Nightmares (2003); A Whale of A Tale (2003); A Short Film About Falling (Peter Lynch & Max Dean, 2007)

Program information:

Weird Science: The Idiosyncratic Archaeology of Peter Lynch

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