CHRISTIE PITS park
Sunday, August 25, 2024

Ferris bueller’s day off

With the short film This is Not About Swimming

Toronto Outdoor Picture Show has been On the Job this summer, and after all our hard work, it’s time for a well-deserved break with John Hughes’ classic 80s teen comedy Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Join loveable, fourth wall-breaking scamp Ferris (Matthew Broderick in a career-defining role), his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara, fresh off her début in Ridley Scott’s Legend) and his uptight best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck, of Speed, Twister and Succession fame) as they skip school and take a whirlwind tour around Chicago. Staying one step ahead of the odious school dean, Ferris and the gang enjoy the ultimate day off, featuring fine art, Ferrari joyrides, fabulous parades, and increasingly over-the-top fun.  

The début film by local quadruple threat writer-director-producer-performer Marni Van Dyk, short film This is Not About Swimming is a funny, inspiring dramedy about a middle-aged woman (Jessica Allen) seeking to escape the trials of everyday life by overcoming her greatest fear: learning to swim. As her very patient instructor (Daniel Jun) attempts to coax her into the water, her lessons are interrupted by her nosy and very pregnant sister (Emma Hunter) — and awkwardly funny family tension ensues. With its beautiful underwater cinematography, gently flowing music, and poignant reflection on letting go, this short embodies Ferris Bueller’s message to the world: “Life moves pretty fast; you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” 

This is Not About Swimming was one of a collection of shorts originally developed and funded as part of TOPS’ tenth anniversary celebration, and it premiered at TIFF in 2023, making it a fitting end to the season as we look ahead to the festival’s 15th anniversary next year.