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EXCLUSIVE: Bankside Films has picked up international sales rights to Aisling Walsh’s Ethel, starring Shira Haas (Unorthodox, Shitsel) in the title role of pioneering conductor Ethel Stark who led the Montreal Women’s Symphony Orchestra.
Emmy and Golden Globe winner Sarah Paulson (12 Years A Slave) has joined the cast as Madge Bowen. Currently in pre-production, the film is a true story based on a screenplay by Celeste Parr.
Haas, who is about to make her West End stage debut with Opening Night, will play Stark, the first conductor of an all women’s symphony who helped lower gender, class and racial barriers to music.
The synopsis reads: “Ethel is a fierce talent; a musical prodigy determined to realise her talent and fulfil her dream. As with many trailblazers, she’s ahead of her time, and must break through the social boundaries of the 1940s – a world which doesn’t recognise her talent, because she’s ‘only a woman’. With her fiancée now at war in Europe, Ethel feels alone and must go into battle by herself. But she is not alone: women just like her, from every walk of life, are struggling to be heard while they chase their own dreams.
“Madge Bowen is a corseted socialite who desires more than tea parties and country clubs. Violet Grant is a young black musician, confined by ‘race’ as much as by gender, and is finding it impossible to make her way. Each has music inside them, ready to burst out. And when guided by Ethel, they organise an informal troupe of all-female musicians, they become united in hope. Through friendship, performance and entertainment, this talented group of women step from the shadows into the light and are heard by the world – and we celebrate their triumph.”
Producing are Marie-Claude Poulin (Brooklyn) for Sphere Media and Martina Niland (Sing Street) for Port Pictures. Bankside Films will be introducing the film to buyers at the Berlin Film Festival and are handling worldwide sales.
New of the project and Haas’ casting were previously covered out of the Venice project market.
Aisling Walsh said: “I am so excited to be working with Shira Haas and Sarah Paulson on the story of Ethel Stark and the Montreal Women’s Symphony Orchestra. It is a story of women from all classes and walks of life coming together to play music. Ordinary women who achieved something extraordinary together. Nothing mattered more to them than playing music. From the moment I first read Céleste’s screenplay there was no doubt that we had to make this film together and share these women’s passion with the world.”
The producers added: “We are very excited about Shira Haas and Sarah Paulson portraying these amazing women and working with the talented team at Bankside to bring this incredible story to the world.”
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