Monday, June 10, 2019

Re State the State of Canadian Films

A few days ago an old friend told me that this coming Wednesday's scheduled TIFF Bell Lightbox screening of Guy Maddin's 1988 epic tale, Tales from the Gimli Hospital, has been unscheduled. Too bad. I was looking forward to seeing it again on the big screen -- which was the way I first saw it.

Mr Maddin is a unique talent among his fellow Canadian filmmakers, and non-Canadian filmmakers.


From April 21, 2017:

The State of Canadian Film

The Agenda with Steve Paikin, TVOntario's outstanding public affairs program, did an hour-long program two days ago on the state of motion picture making in Canada as part of its celebration of Canadian film.

The first part of the program is titled "What's Wrong with Canadian Film?"
Watch here.

The second segment is more 'positive': "Why Canadian Film Matters."
Watch here.


It's an argument I've long heard: "Canadian films are bad." I would disagree. Without getting into an essay here, bad films are not a Canadian domain. There are loads of bad films generated in the U.S., and elsewhere. The only theory or argument I would agree with is that too many Canadian filmmakers try to copy their favourite films, in style and content; and most of those are head-of-the-line and top-of-the-line Hollywood productions. Instead of self-consciously, or, as some cynics might say, unconsciously, imitating expensive Hollywood films, why not try doing something that is "you" (and more the scale of your own wallet)?


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