Being Canadian

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2:07

Being Canadian

2015

1h 30m

Documentary

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25%

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8 Reviews

45%

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250+ Ratings

Rob Cohen tries to find out what it really means to be Canadian.

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Adam Nayman

The Walrus

Being Canadian reifies stereotypes under the guise of deconstructing them, and panders to the pernicious idea of celebrity authority (with a few experts and plucked-from-the-crowd civilians sprinkled in for good measure).

Jan 2, 2016

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Michael Rechtshaffen

Los Angeles Times

It's all pleasant enough, but the film, ultimately more of a checklist than an in-depth analysis, never really shines any fresh light on Canada's identity crisis or gets to the source of all those preconceived notions.

Sep 17, 2015

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Liz Braun

Toronto Sun

[A] good-natured documentary.

Rated: 3/5

May 7, 2015

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Norman Wilner

NOW Toronto

Being Canadian is more of a pandering stunt than a proper documentary, filled with easy jokes and semi-comical historical observations, but not much in the way of actual insight.

Rated: 2/5

Dec 18, 2015

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Jay Stone

Ex-Press.com

Another shallow, easy, and small-time immersion in the sort of nationalistic navel-gazing most people outgrew years ago.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 12, 2015

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Ethan Alter

Film Journal International

Like our good neighbor to the north, this first-person documentary is genial, amusing and a little bit dull.

Sep 16, 2015

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Jennifer M

He lost me at the point where he went to a psychotherapist, pretending to be Canada and said that his parents were France and Britain … This outlook is too Christopher Columbus for me. None of this “being Canadian” movie refers to actually being a Canadian. It refers to be in a colonizer.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

10/05/24

Full Review

Audience Member

It's incredible that this regressive documentary was made a mere seven years ago. It's full of cliches and stereotypes. For example, that early Canadian television was bad. (The late sixties drama "Wojeck" was circulated internationally and quirky shows like "Seeing Things" were innovative and interesting). There is no indigenous nor black Canadian representation in the film either. Nor mention of their contribution to Canadian history. The only Inuit reference was igloo this, igloo that. Contrivances galore. There was also few women and permanently residing in Canada actors. (The Farce appear briefly but Mr. Cohen quickly gets back to the Canucks residing in Los Angeles). I am surprised bordering on shocked, that CTV and CBC online continue to screen such an out of place and time feature. Considering what Canadians are grappling with at the moment in the spring of 2022: residential school children in graveyards, rude, opportunistic governments and fringe "freedom" convoys polluting the capital - "Being Canadian": not.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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dave s

In Being Canadian, Robert Cohen sets off on an epic road trip from Nova Scotia to British Columbia in search of what it means to be a Canadian. The documentary confirms that Canadians are polite, apologetic, resistant to but also accepting of periodically frigid temperatures, and like to look down their collective nose at Americans while simultaneously feeling a bit overshadowed. As a Canadian, it was nice to see the beautiful landscapes and enjoy some of the self-deprecating humor, but the movie felt a bit aimless and much of it felt heavily contrived. While those who are unfamiliar with Canadian culture may have learned a thing or two, Canadians themselves will simply shrug at the end and think ‘yeah, that sums it up, eh?'

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Zach S

i love Canadians. many of these people are intolerable though.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/10/21

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Audience Member

Great job ! Well done

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/15/20

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Audience Member

Very funny movie full of great Canadian comedians and definite good-natured Canadian vibe.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

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Being Canadian: Trailer 1

2:07

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Synopsis

Rob Cohen tries to find out what it really means to be Canadian.

Director: Robert Cohen
Producer: Colin K. Gray, Teza Lawrence, Michael Souther, Megan Raney Aarons
Screenwriter: Robert Cohen
Production Co: GRAiNEY PICTURES, Purpledog
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 30m

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