Maybe you’ve read By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept. Perhaps you've only heard of Elizabeth Smart and her slim, poetic novella. But, no question, the strange story of her life and obsessive love, which she fictionalized in "By Grand Central Station," continues to fascinate.

Join us for a screening of filmmaker Maya Gallus's lyrical documentary, "Elizabeth Smart: On the Side of the Angels," and a discussion about the Canadian author's life and work led by Gallus on Sunday, Jan. 21, from 4 p.m. at the Revue.

Born in 1913 to a well-to-do Ottawa family, Smart took off for England at age 19 to study piano, but soon turned her interest to writing. It was through words that she fell passionately in love with British poet George Barker long before she met him.

They never married, but Smart would have four children by him (he had a total of 15) and, throwing aside the conventions of the day, raised them as a working single mother.

Named for a collection of Smart's diaries, Gallus's film features a dramatic portrayal of Smart by Jackie Burroughs and is narrated by novelist Michael Ondaatje. Powerful excerpts from Smart’s work and rare archival photographs create a compelling exploration of her life and art.

This is another in the Extraordinary Women series presented by not-for-profit Back Lane Studios. Proceeds go to Back Lane's filmmaking programs for students and seniors.

Tickets in advance on Eventbrite: $13. At the door: $15 general admission; $13 for seniors and Revue members.