Alexandra Anderson

E. P. Thompson, a British historian, poet, novelist and activist, was a voice of dissent in the dogmatic political environment of 20th century Europe. As a member of the New Left, his work and activism sought to bridge the gap between Marxist theory and practice, and to heal the fracture of the Cold War divide

Its title riffing on that of Thom Andersen's Los Angeles Plays Itself. Researcher and filmmaker Alexandra Anderson presents her exploration of Toronto’s representation in film. Hollywood's neocolonial use of Toronto as a pseudonymous urban backdrop with the way Canadian filmmakers themselves have portrayed it over the years. Often slyly funny (the Incredible Hulk seems to hate Yonge Street as much as Goin' Down the Road's hosers were fascinated by it), and featuring trenchant ruminations from such commentators as Bruce McDonald, Piers Handling, Atom Egoyan, Patricia Rozema, and Geoff Pevere, Toronto Hides Itself is essential viewing for anyone interested in our city's cine-history.