Oh, Canada (film)

2024 film by Paul Schrader

Oh, Canada

Release poster

Directed by| Paul Schrader
Screenplay by| Paul Schrader
Based on| Foregone
by Russell Banks
Produced by|

* Tiffany Boyle
* David Gonzales
* Meghan Hanlon
* Scott LaStaiti
* Luisa Law

Starring|

* Richard Gere
* Jacob Elordi
* Uma Thurman
* Victoria Hill
* Michael Imperioli
* Penelope Mitchell
* Kristine Froseth

Cinematography| Andrew Wonder
Edited by| Benjamin Rodriguez Jr.
Music by| Phosphorescent

Production
companies

* Foregone Film PSC
* Fit Via Vi Film Productions
* Lucky 13 Productions
* Ottocento Films
* SIPUR
* Vested Interest

Distributed by| Kino Lorber

Release date

* May 17, 2024 (2024-05-17) (Cannes)

Running time

| 91 minutes
Country| United States
Language| English

Oh, Canada is a 2024 American drama film written and directed by Paul Schrader, based on the 2021 novel Foregone by Russell Banks. It stars Richard Gere, Uma Thurman, Michael Imperioli, Jacob Elordi, Victoria Hill, and Kristine Froseth. This marked the second collaboration between Gere and Schrader after American Gigolo as well as Schrader's second adaptation of a novel by Banks after 1997's Affliction.

The film had its world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2024.[1]

Oh, Canada Press Conference at 2024 Cannes Film Festival

## Premise

[edit]

The story delves into the life of a tormented writer on the brink of death, a Canadian-American leftist who fled to Canada to avoid the Vietnam War draft.[2]

Leonard Fife (Richard Gere and Jacob Elordi) is a terminally ill writer and filmmaker who has agreed to have his final testament of his life filmed by documentary filmmakers Malcolm (Michael Imperioli) and Diana (Victoria Hill), but proves to be an unreliable narrator due to his failing and distorted memory.[3]

## Cast

[edit]

* Richard Gere as Leonard Fife
* Jacob Elordi as young Leonard Fife
* Uma Thurman as Emma
* Victoria Hill as Diana
* Michael Imperioli as Malcolm
* Penelope Mitchell as Sloan/Amy
* Kristine Froseth as Alicia
* Zach Shaffer as Cornel Fife

## Production

[edit]

The production received a SAG-AFTRA exemption and began filming in New York City in September 2023. It wrapped production three weeks later in October.[4][5] In December 2023, it was announced Kristine Froseth, Michael Imperioli, and Uma Thurman had joined the cast of the film.[6][7][8] Robert De Niro turned down Gere's part due to the low salary.[9] Arclight Films, after producing Schrader's First Reformed, agreed to finance and represent sales of the movie at the European Film Market.[10]

## Reception

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 68% of 37 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.8/10.[11] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 59 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The Screenings Guide of the 77th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
2. ^ Barfield, Charles. "'Oh, Canada': Paul Schrader Confirms New Film Will Star Richard Gere & Jacob Elordi". The Playlist. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
3. ^ Jonathan Romney, "‘Oh, Canada’: Cannes Review". Screen Daily, May 17, 2024.
4. ^ Ruimy, Jordan (August 19, 2019). "Paul Schrader's 'Oh, Canada' Starts Production in NYC". World of Reel. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
5. ^ "Paul Schrader's 'Oh' Canada' Wraps Production". Orange County Film Office. October 12, 2023. Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
6. ^ Grobar, Matt (December 5, 2023). "Kristine Froseth Joins Richard Gere, Jacob Elordi In Paul Schrader Pic 'Oh, Canada'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
7. ^ Grobar, Matt (December 8, 2023). "Michael Imperioli Boards Paul Schrader's 'Oh, Canada". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
8. ^ Grobar, Matt (December 12, 2023). "Uma Thurman Confirmed To Join Richard Gere, Jacob Elordi In 'Oh, Canada'". Deadline. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
9. ^ Paul Schrader in Cannes: “Every Time I’m Getting Ready to Die, I Have a New Idea”
10. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (February 8, 2024). "Arclight Films Boards Paul Schrader's 'Oh, Canada' Starring Jacob Elordi, Richard Gere (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
11. ^ "Oh, Canada". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
12. ^ "Oh, Canada". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 2, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Oh, Canada at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Films by Paul Schrader

Written and directed|

* Blue Collar (1978)
* Hardcore (1979)
* American Gigolo (1980)
* Cat People (1982)
* Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985)
* Light of Day (1987)
* Light Sleeper (1992)
* Touch (1997)
* Affliction (1997)
* Forever Mine (1999)
* The Walker (2007)
* Dying of the Light (2014)
* First Reformed (2017)
* The Card Counter (2021)
* Master Gardener (2022)
* Oh, Canada (2024)

Directed only|

* Patty Hearst (1988)
* The Comfort of Strangers (1990)
* Witch Hunt (1994)
* Auto Focus (2002)
* Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2005)
* Adam Resurrected (2008)
* The Canyons (2013)
* Dog Eat Dog (2016)

Written only|

* The Yakuza (1974)
* Taxi Driver (1976)
* Obsession (1976)
* Rolling Thunder (1977)
* Old Boyfriends (1979)
* Raging Bull (1980)
* The Mosquito Coast (1986)
* The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
* City Hall (1996)
* Bringing Out the Dead (1999)
* There Are No Saints (2022)

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