Wroclaw, Poland-----Canada’s reputation often is overwhelmed by the sheer size and influence of its neighbor to the south. While Canadians may seem interchangeable with Americans to outsiders, the differences are particularly clear in the Canadian film industry, where active governmental subsidy systems have nurtured the careers of such film artists as David Cronenberg, Atom Egoyan, Norman Jewison, Robert Lepage, and Guy Maddin, who is getting a career retrospective here.
Kino Kanady: Cinema of Canada at the ERA New Horizons International Film Festival offers a survey of the best Canadian films of the new millennium. “Stardom” (2000) from Oscar winning director Denys Arcand is a biting satire on the jet-setting world of international modeling. “Life Without Death” (2000) is director/cinematographer Frank Cole’s fascinating chronicle of his trek across the beautiful but deadly Sahara Desert. “Imitations of Life” (2003) is writer/director Mike Hoolboom’s aesthetic “found footage” film experiment. “The Corporation” (2003) is a devilish social critique of corporate greed influenced by the writings of economist/philosopher Noam Chomsky, from the director team of Mark Achbar and Jennifer Abbott. A unique mini-genre is the exploration of the native Inuit culture. In 2001, director Zacharias Kunuk became an international sensation with “The Fast Runner”, a beautifully shot drama that was conceived and performed by Inuit actors. The film’s lead Natar Ungalaaq also stars as the Inuit hunter who develops tuberculosis in Benoit Pilon’s celebrated “The Necessities of Life” (2008). The Inuit experience is also explored in rich detail in “Before Tomorrow” (2008), co-directed by Marie-Helene Cousineau and Madeline Piuluq Ivatu. Newer titles include: “Fig Trees”, an operatic documentary on two AIDS activists by John Greyson; “Edison and Leo”, animator Neil Burns’ stop-motion epic; “Polytechnique”, a harrowing recreation of a deadly school shooting by director Denis Villeneuve; and “Lost Song”, a personal story of family dysfunction by writer/director Rodrique Jean. Two cult directors are highlighted. Writer/director David Cote is represented by “All That She Wants”, a rural gothic tale, and “Carcasses”, a documentary/fiction mix about a geriatric car collector. Bruce McDonald’s quirky contributions include “The Tracey Fragments”, a kaleidoscopic portrait of a troubled teenager starring Ellen Page of “Juno” fame and “Pontypool”, a zombie art film. Canada….it’s not Hollywood North anymore.
by Sandy Mandelberger, Online Dailies Editor on fest21.com
http://www.fest21.com/en/node/70993/edit
01.08.2009 | Editor's blog
Cat. : Aboriginal peoples in Canadian territories Aboriginal peoples in Quebec Arcand Atanarjuat Atom Egoyan Before Tomorrow Benoît Pilon Bruce McDonald Canada Cinema of Canada Cinema of Canada Collector Contact Details David Cote David Cronenberg Denis Villeneuve Denys Arcand Director economist editor Ellen Page Entertainment Entertainment Films Frank Cole Guy Maddin Human Interest Human Interest HUNTER Indigenous peoples of North America Inuit Jennifer Abbott John Greyson Madeline Piuluq Ivatu Marie-Hélène Cousineau Mark Achbar Mike Hoolboom Natar Ungalaaq Neil Burns New Horizons Noam Chomsky Norman Jewison Online Dailies Oscar Person Career Poland Quebec films Robert Lepage Rodrique Jean runner Sandy Mandelberger Social Issues Social Issues The ERA New Horizons International Film Festival writer /director www.fest21.com/en/node/70993/edit Zacharias Kunuk Zacharias Kunuk