Director Paul Schrader does a brilliant job at flashing backwards in time in his latest film ‘OH, CANADA;’ breaks down the genesis of the film with a discussion after AFIFEST screening

By Oliver Carnay

Based on Russell Banks’ novel “Foregone,” Paul Schrader’s new film OH, CANADA stars Richard Gere (who gives a strong performance) as the ailing Leonard Fife, a political documentary filmmaker who agrees to do a tell-all final statement interview with a former student (Michael Imperioli) and Diana (Victoria Hill). Jacob Elordi plays the young Leonard. Uma Thurman plays Emma, whom this testament meant for, a sort of love letter revealing of his true self to her.

Leonard Fife achieved notoriety when he fled to Canada to avoid being drafted in the Vietnam War. Now in his late 70s and after a long and successful career, he has been diagnosed with cancer and has agreed to participate in a final interview. Using a technology that he pioneered, the documentarian now finds himself as the subject, able to look directly into both the camera and the eyes of his interviewer. He has bypassed the younger documentarian and would-be-cypher in favor of his wife Emma.

Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, this insightful look into the shifting nature of truth from beloved filmmaker and AFI Conservatory Alum Paul Schrader is a reflection on the fragile subjectivity of memories and self-conception. This is one of Schrader’s best that tells about reflection and mortality, an enjoyable satisfying film to watch.

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December 2, 2024