Canary

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Canary

Released Jun 7, 2019

2h 0m

Drama

Musical

LGBTQ+

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Popcornmeter

100%

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12 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Drafted into the South African army during apartheid, a young soldier joins the military's traveling choir, and romance on the battlefield causes him to deal with his long-repressed sexual identity.

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Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

[A] rich, poignant and finely observed musical-drama.

Jun 6, 2019

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Jude Dry

IndieWire

This surprisingly fun musical examines the effects of nationalism on a tender soul, and the bond of brotherhood among misfits.

Oct 19, 2018

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Sheri Linden

The Hollywood Reporter

Olwagen's third feature is a winning combination of thoughtfulness and exuberance that could translate into international theatrical play beyond its fest run.

Jul 23, 2018

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Ben Turner

The Pink Lens

Kanarie gives us a handful of vivid characters who we grow to root for. Paired with a host of cinematic treats, this makes for a strong movie with a clear voice that is probably the best movie in Afrikaans you'll see

Rated: 4/5

Sep 1, 2021

Full Review

Michael McNeely

theBUZZ

Every once in a while comes a film that is filled with so much joy, human connection, and emotional turmoil, you know that as long as it sticks the landing, it is a masterpiece.

Oct 22, 2019

Full Review

Terry Mesnard

Gayly Dreadful

What's fantastic, though, is that [it] juxtaposes this inner turmoil with the greater problems facing South Africa in the 80s.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 15, 2019

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Liam D

Combining a musical and coming of age drama. This is a wholly unique experience

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/11/24

Full Review

PridePosterStudios

The internalised homophobia gets too much. The first scene promised a self-assured queer protagonist who doesn’t take any guff…but it soon descends into trope town.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/26/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Christiaan Olwagens finest

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Audience Member

Amazing gay coming of age film. Funny, passionate and provocative.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

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Audience Member

This is an interesting movie on so many levels....It's about discovery, questioning and change set against a military background in South Africa during a very disturbing time in its confining conservative history.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

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Christiaan Olwagen

Director

Schalk Bezuidenhout

Johan

Hannes Otto

Wolfgang

Germandt Geldenhuys

Ludolf

Gérard Rudolf

Reverend Koch

Jacques Bessenger

Reverend Engelbrecht

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Synopsis

Drafted into the South African army during apartheid, a young soldier joins the military's traveling choir, and romance on the battlefield causes him to deal with his long-repressed sexual identity.

Director: Christiaan Olwagen
Producer: Jaco Smit
Screenwriter: Christiaan Olwagen, Charl-Johan Lingenfelder
Distributor: Breaking Glass Pictures
Production Co: Marche Media (PTY) LTD
Genre: Drama, Musical, LGBTQ+
Original Language: Afrikaans
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 7, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 18, 2019
Runtime: 2h 0m

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