Story
Leonard Fyfe, one of sixty thousand draft dodgers and deserters who fled to Canada to avoid service in Vietnam, shares all his secrets to demystify his mythologized life. Based on the novel Foregone by Russell Banks. This is the second time that Paul Schrader has adapted one of Banks’ novels for the screen, following his adaptation of Affliction (1997). I saw it in Cannes, at the premiere of the film. OH, CANADA is a very original film by one of the masters of cinema, a real work of art. The film is beautifully made with strong visuals. It features excellent cinematography and excellent production design. The acting is strong, especially Richard Gere, who plays the main character. He plays wonderfully and memorably in the spirit of Jack Nicholson in “FIVE EASY PLAYS” – a complex, not always pleasant, but convincing character. It may not be to everyone’s taste, but I think it’s one of Paul Schrader’s greatest achievements and a gift to movie lovers. Recommended.