37/41
Based on the novel ‘Foregone’ by Russell Banks
Synopsis
Leonard Fife, one of the sixty thousand draft dodgers and deserters who fled to Canada to avoid serving in Vietnam, shares all his secrets to demystify his mythologized life. This is the second time Paul Schrader has directed one of Banks’ novel for the screen, following his adaptation Affliction (1997).
I saw it in Cannes, at the film’s premiere
Featured on Film Junk Podcast: Episode 961: In a Violent Nature + TIFF 2024 (2024). OH, CANADA is a very original film from one of the masters of filmmaking, a true work of art.
The film is beautifully made with strong visuals
It features beautiful cinematography and excellent production design. The performances are strong, especially Richard Gere who plays the lead.
It may not be for everyone, but I think it is one of Paul Schrader’s greatest achievements and a gift for film lovers
He gives a magnificent and unforgettable performance in the spirit of Jack Nicholson in FIVE EASY PIECES: a complicated character, not always likeable, but believable. Recommended.