Three Lives of Kate
An Ian Thompson/Karen Hanson Film;  Faust Films Inc.
Written, directed and produced by Ian Thompson and Karen Hanson

• 35mm, Colour
• 18 minutes
• Canada, 2000

Seven-year-old Kate believes that she can prevent bad things from happening to her family with her "magical powers". So she switches the light on and off three times before going to bed and counts between every word. What Kate doesn't realize is that there's a name that doctors give for her magical powers: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Just before her eighth birthday, Kate loses her power and she can lead a normal life like everyone else. Until one day, the counting begins once again...

Sandra Oh narrates this gentle tale of learning to find beauty in uncertainty.

“The French call OCD the doubting disease. It stems from a misguided need to know with absolute certainty that my hands were free of germs, that my family was safe, that we don’t come to nothingness when we die.”

• Karen Hanson studied philosophy at University of Toronto. She is currently Associate Editor at Harper Collins Publishers. "Three Lives of Kate" is her first film.
• Ian Thompson graduated from the University of Toronto in International Relations and later earned an MFA in Film at York University. His short films include an adaptation of Chekhov's "The Boor" and several documentaries for the Royal Ontario Museum.

Awards

• Gold Medal for Independent Films at the 41st Brno 16 Film Festival (Czech Republic)
• Gold Medal for the Best Dramatic Short at the 34th Worldfest-Houston
• CineNY (CineWomen NY) Award for Outstanding Narrative Short
• Best Film with a Psychological Theme, Brooklyn Film Festival

Reviews

• "gripping" Boston Phoenix
• "...beautifully told and ultimately hopeful." The Toronto Star
• "There are a few good dramas [at the Local Heroes Film Festival], the best of which is a piece called Three Lives of Kate. The film skillfully demonstrates how easy it is to miss the signs of obsessive compulsive disorder..." Uptown Magazine (Winnipeg)

Cast

• Child Kate: Liza Agrba
• Teen Kate: Alisha Stranges
• Adult Kate: Aina Lordo
• Narrator: Sandra Oh
• Emily: Lorianna Koenneker
• Hot Dog Vendor: Les Smolik
• Mom: Anastassia Mikoyan
• Baby Nicky: Margarita Agrba
• Child Nicky: Hannah Blazer
• Robert: Erik Gokhban
• Young Girlfriends: Michaela Chen, Parris McKenley, Stephany Chen
• Dad: Dima Agrba
• Janitor: Fred Thompson
• Teen Girlfriends: Alexis Walker, Gillian Chassels, Davida Gragor
• Doctor: Edwin Chan
• Dave: Max Solomitchev
• Jumper: Alex Smithers
• Hoarder: Ken Thompson
• Checker: Barbro Thompson
• Grade 2 Teacher: Zena Karim
• Grade 8 Teacher: Ria Mesaros
• Nurse: Nesha Karim
• Orderly: Dan Park

Credits

• Directors: Ian Thompson & Karen Hanson
• Director of Photography: John Lesavage
• Editors: Mary Ungerleider & Jason Gatt
• Costume designers: Irina Solomitchev
• Sound Designer: Denise McCormick
• Production Designer: Claire Ellenwood
• Composers: Stephen Skratt & Orest Hrynewich
• Line producer/production manager: Lila Karim

Music

“Androgyne”
Performed by Quartango
Composer Mario Leblanc

“Alchemy”
Performed by Rebecca Campbell
Composers Rebecca Campbell & Justin Haynes

“Nueve De Julio”
Performed by Quartango
Composers: Padula/Rodriguez
Arranged by Richard Hunt
Robert Cram: Flute

Filming Locations

• Jesse Ketchum School
• Women’s College Hospital
• Toronto Parks – Toronto Zoo
• Various Southern Ontario locations

Screenings

• 45th Valladolid International Film Festival, Spain
• 16th Boston Film Festival, USA
• 40th Huy World Festival of Short Films, Belgium
• 41st Brno Sixteen, Czech Republic
• 23rd Festival de films de femmes, Créteil, France
• Empire State Festival, USA
• Winfemme Festival (LA), USA
• FirstGlance Independent Film and Video Festival (LA), USA
• Brooklyn Film Festival, USA
• Long Beach International Film Festival, USA
• Atlantic City Film Festival, USA
• Hope and Dreams Film Festival, USA
• Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, USA
• Port Hueneme International Film Festival, USA
• Ajijic Festival Internacional de Cine, Mexico
• Rendezvous with Madness, Canada
• Ohio Independent Film Festival, USA
• Telluride Indie Fest, USA
• Ojai International Film Festival, USA
• Santa Monica Film Festival, USA
• Sea and Sky Film Festival, Canada
• Voladero International Film Festival, Mexico
• Victoria Independent Film & Video Festival, Canada
• Sarasota Film Festival, USA
• Local Heroes Canadian Film Festival, Canada
• SPROCKETS Toronto International Film Festival for Children, Canada
• International Film Festival Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canary Islands
• Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee, USA
• 34th Houston Worldfest, USA
• Herland Feminist Film and Video Festival, Canada
• 30th Festival Internacional de Cinema Figueira da Foz, Portugal

Made with Financial Assistance From:

• Canada Council for the Arts
• Ontario Arts Council
• Toronto Arts Council
• National Film Board; Filmmakers Assistance Program