From The Matrix to Sense8: Concordia's Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema is featured in a documentary on the Wachowskis

Concordia’s Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema was recently highlighted in the French documentary De Matrix à Sense8: la révolution Wachowski, which aired on French public television on May 31.

Directed by Thibaut Sève, the documentary delves into the groundbreaking work of Lana and Lilly Wachowski, the filmmakers behind The Matrix trilogy and the series Sense8. It explores their revolutionary approach to cinema, showcasing their experimental aesthetics and their pioneering contributions to LGBTQ+ representation.

Cáel Keegan, an associate professor of film and moving image studies at Concordia, is featured in the documentary, offering insights into the Wachowskis' films, particularly their feminist and anti-capitalist messages. Keegan also explores how the Wachowskis pioneered the representation of transgender and queer narratives in Hollywood. The documentary includes footage from Keegan’s Sexual Representation in Cinema (FMST 391) class, where Concordia students are seen actively engaging in discussions on these themes.

“The Wachowskis have made more than films — they have created a visual language for trans and queer people to imagine their futures,” Keegan says. His expertise in transgender studies and his academic work on the Wachowskis has provided essential context for understanding their impact on mainstream cinema.

Next term, Keegan will be teaching the course Directors (The Wachowskis and Todd Haynes) (FMST 331). It will examine how these filmmakers have contributed to popular transgender and queer modes of narrativity, aesthetics and political critique. The class is one of the many ways Concordia students can access and engage with experts in their field.

Find out more about Concordia’s Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema.

Watch De Matrix à Sense8 on Dailymotion.