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Being Canadian

Play trailer 2:07 Poster for Being Canadian 2015 1h 30m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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25% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 45% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Rob Cohen tries to find out what it really means to be Canadian.
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Being Canadian

Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review Liz Braun Toronto Sun [A] good-natured documentary. Rated: 3/5 May 7, 2015 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review Zach S i love Canadians. many of these people are intolerable though. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 12/10/21 Full Review Audience Member Great job ! Well done Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/15/20 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews
Being Canadian

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Movie Info

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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