27/49
by Russell Banks
Line of Events
Leonard Fife, one of the sixty thousand draft dodgers and deserters who fled to Canada to avoid service in Vietnam, shares all his secrets to demystifying his mythologized life. IMDb editor Arno Kazarian offers a quick look at 12 films screening at the 2024 New York Film Festival, including Anora and the dangerous and curiously erotic Mercy.
Saw it at Cannes, at the film’s premiere
This is Paul Schrader’s second time directing one of Banks’ #39 novels for the screen after his adaptation Affliction (1997).. Refers to Film Junk Podcast: Episode 961: In a Violent Nature + TIFF 2024 (2024).
It has beautiful cinematography and excellent production design
OH, CANADA is a highly original film from one of the masters of cinema, a true work of art. The film is beautifully crafted with a strong visual appeal.
The acting is strong, especially Richard Gere, who plays the title character
He gives a wonderful and unforgettable performance in the spirit of Jack Nicholson in FIVE EASY PIECES – a complicated character, not always likable, but compelling. It may not be to everyone’s taste, but I think it’s one of Paul Schrader’s favorites.
The greatest achievements of the 39th and a gift for film lovers
We recommend… See the full schedule for the 62nd New York Film Festival this fall.