49/21
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. by Russell Banks. This is the second time Paul Schrader has directed one of Banks’ novels for the screen, following his adaptation of Affliction (1997). Referenced in Film Junk Podcast: Episode 961: In a Violent Nature + TIFF 2024 (2024). I saw it in Cannes, at the film’s premiere. OH, CANADA is a very original film from one of the masters of cinema, a true work of art. The film is beautifully made with a strong visual look. It features beautiful cinematography and great production design. The performances are strong, especially Richard Gere who plays the lead. He gives a terrific and memorable performance in the vein of Jack Nicholson in FIVE EASY PIECES: a complicated character, not always likeable but compelling, one of his greatest achievements and a treat for film lovers. Recommended.