Stanley Kubrick : The Exhibition with Baby

We kicked off our winter holidays by visiting the Stanley Kubrick exhibition in Toronto and I had to let the hubs write this post because he is a HUGE Stanley Kubrick fan!

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While a look into the mind of Stanley Kubrick would not seem to be the most kid friendly place to visit on a Sunday afternoon, Yashy and I decided to take a chance and brought the little ones along to see Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. The visit gave as a rare opportunity to see some of the famous set pieces (infamous ones too) that helped make Kubrick one of the true auteurs of filmmaking in the 20th century. Riddled with captivating behind the scenes photos and stories, as well as fascinating details on the press that surrounded his often controversial films, this exhibit is a memorable experience that I would recommend all Kubrick lovers visit.

Taking children to museums can produce surprising results. Because they are so in tune with differences in their day to day experiences, an exhibit can present an array of art that stimulates children’s imaginations and encourages them to ask questions about the ever changing world they are experiencing, teaching them that life is not just a routine. Admittedly, our princess-loving daughter was drawn to the lavish 18th century period costumes from “Barry Lyndon” and those creepy matching dresses the twins wore in “The Shining”, but she also showed an interest in the ape costumes and ship models used in “2001: A Space Odyssey”, models that have inspired science fiction over the past 50 years. We did have to rush through the racy Milk Bar display from “A Clockwork Orange”, but the rest of the exhibit contains kid friendly items that aroused our daughter’s curiously. However, let’s be honest, the real kid at this exhibit was me.

As an admirer of his work, I found the exhibit to be a first rate, comprehensive display on Kubrick, not just the films, but the life he lived while making some of the most controversial movies of his time. As I moved chronologically through his oeuvre, several artifacts and documents genuinely surprised me, and highlights included a document outlining some of the original story and title ideas from “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb”; letters of communication between novelist Vladimir Nabokov and Kubrick during “Lolita”; and wall to wall carpeting in “The Shining” display replicating that used in the Overlook Hotel, of which the effect was very creepy. Kubrick is legendary for his attention to detail, and we see the extent of this throughout the journey, never more so in the open-to-the-public Fourth Floor addition that features Kubrick’s concept art from “AI: Artificial Intelligence” – a film that Steven Spielberg would eventually make – and a day-to-day account of the life of Napoleon, a lifelong passion project of Kubrick’s that he was never able to realize.

The movies will be a big part of both of our kids’ lives as they grow, and the Bell Lightbox is a world class facility for film. Previous exhibits featured the James Bond films, director Tim Burton, and Canadian Filmmaker David Cronenberg. Additionally, year-round screenings of classic movies and international films, including those of Hayao Miyazaki, known as the Japanese Walt Disney, provide a child growing up in Toronto the opportunity to truly embrace the movies on a global scale.

The Kubrick exhibit itself takes about an hour, not too taxing on the little ones, and by filling out a survey at the end, we received a free bag of popcorn that will help our daughter remember the day fondly. We were not allowed to take our stroller into the exhibit but were able to keep it at the coat check on the main floor (at no charge). Baby wearing infants and toddlers are a good idea. The Lightbox also has change table facilities in the wheelchair friendly washroom on the Second Floor and the building is only about a 5 minute walk west of St Andrew Station. Oliver & Boccini has two restaurants in the building, which warrant an entirely different post. For film lovers, the Bell Lightbox is one of the most magical places on earth, and thanks to this exhibit, it’s where I finally met Hal 9000.
A final note: as part of the exhibition, the Lightbox is screening a number of Kubrick films throughout the winter, including 70 mm copy of “2001: A Space Odyssey”. The vibrancy and depth of the colours on the 70 mm print are unmatched by any of the digital films in circulation today. Do yourself a favour and check it out. The exhibit goes on until the 25th of January and you can win some tickets by entering their contest.