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Our Beautiful City returns with A Portrait of a Bookstore as an Old Man, a delightful portrait of the world's most famous bookshop.
Once a sanctuary for giants of modern literature, Paris’ legendary Shakespeare and Company has become a global emblem of bookstore culture and its importance in thriving cities. Travel through the store’s fabled history with its late owner George Whitman, the eccentric visionary who, for over 50 years, welcomed a generations of wandering writers to his Left Bank bookstore-turned-bohemian utopia, including Henry Miller, Anaïs Nin, William Burroughs, and James Baldwin. As Shakespeare & Co. celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, find out what makes the bookstore survive—and thrive—in our increasingly digital world.
Stick around for a special panel relating the film back to Toronto’s wonderful, but increasingly imperiled, bookstore community. Explore how we can protect our city's marvellous indies in the face of rising rents, corporate chains and online sellers.
Featuring:
• Ben McNally, owner and founder of Ben McNally Books
• Martha Sharpe, founder and owner of Flying Books