Complete Cast List for the Movie Matt and Mara

Matt and Mara is a captivating 2024 drama directed by Canadian filmmaker Kazik Radwanski. The film delves into the intricate relationships surrounding a university professor named Mara, portrayed by Deragh Campbell. Set against an academic backdrop filled with poetry and lectures, the narrative explores the nuances of human connections through Mara’s interactions with her students, her husband, and a significant old friend.

Mara faces the challenges of balancing her professional persona with personal struggles, offering an intimate portrayal of fidelity and the haunting allure of unfulfilled desires. The film intricately weaves together the everyday experiences and crucial turning points in Mara’s life.

Matt is portrayed by Matt Johnson, while Mara is brought to life by Deragh Campbell.

When Mara unexpectedly reconnects with Matt, her old college friend, she is forced to confront feelings that complicate her already strained marriage to Samir, played by Mounir Al Shami. This serendipitous meeting resurrects past memories and current desires, paving the way for a significant exploration of love, identity, and the roads not taken.

Exploring Full Cast List Details of Matt and Mara

The cast of Matt and Mara features:

1) According to Campbell and Mara

Deragh Campbell takes center stage as Mara, the film’s pivotal character. Campbell is well-established in the realm of independent Canadian cinema, known for her deeply immersive and impactful performances. Her collaborations with director Sofia Bohdanowicz have received notable acclaim, with films like Never Eat Alone (2016), Veslemøy’s Song (2018), MS Slavic 7 (2019), and Point and Line to Plane (2020) making waves in international film festivals.

Campbell’s performance in Anne at 13,000 Ft., another film by Kazik Radwanski, was highly praised, earning her the Jay Scott Prize from the Toronto Film Critics Association and the title of Best Actress in a Canadian Film from the Vancouver Film Critics Circle. In Matt and Mara, Campbell masterfully embodies a poetry professor grappling with the complexities of a troubled marriage and the rekindling of a past romance, delivering a portrayal that is both nuanced and authentically profound.

2) Matt Johnson as Matt

Matt Johnson plays Matt, Mara’s old college friend whose unexpected return stirs a whirlwind of complex emotions and memories. Johnson is recognized not only for his acting but also for his skills as a filmmaker, enriching his performances with a deeper understanding of storytelling.

He gained notable recognition with his film The Dirties (2013), which won the Best Narrative Feature at the Slamdance Film Festival. His follow-up film, Operation Avalanche (2016), premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and displayed his talent for weaving intricate narratives with innovative filmmaking techniques.

Johnson’s filmmaking experience enhances his acting, bringing complexity to his role in Matt and Mara. His portrayal of Matt embodies charm and nostalgia, underscored by unresolved issues from his past, crafting a rich and multi-dimensional dynamic with Mara.

Other Supporting Cast

The supporting cast of Matt and Mara includes:

Simon Reynolds as Father
Alejandro Zapico as Front Desk Agent
Marlowe Granados as Maeve
Jim Phu as Sean
Ava Mattern as Shop Assistant
Cristina Paoletta as Funeral Director
Kinshuk Dhingra as a Creative Writing Student
Georgia Tannis as Professor Catherine Burke
Jack Nguyen as a Professor
Frances Howlett
Linda Theresa Young as a University Professor
Mounir Al Shami as Samir

What is Matt and Mara About?

Matt and Mara delves into the subtle yet profound struggles encountered within the realms of love and fidelity. Following Mara, the poetry professor, the film captures her internal conflict as she navigates her career and family responsibilities alongside the unexpected return of an old flame, Matt.

The film skillfully employs the metaphor of poetic grammar, which Mara teaches, to parallel her need for reevaluation of her life’s structures. Through classroom discussions, intimate family moments, and clandestine meetings with Matt, viewers are invited into Mara’s world, where each choice and its consequences resonate deeply.

As the narrative unfolds, Mara grapples with the contrasting dynamics between her commitment to Samir and her complicated connection with Matt. The tension culminates in a nuanced climax that refrains from offering easy answers, instead reflecting the multifaceted realities of human relationships.

Interested viewers can catch Matt and Mara on MUBI.

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