Oh Canada

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2:07

Oh Canada

2024

1h 35m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

66%

Tomatometer

106 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Fiery but feeling his years and his illness, ailing filmmaker Leonard Fife (Richard Gere) wants to tell his life story, unfiltered, before it's too late. As the director of lauded documentary exposés, he has much to be proud of, but his avoidance of the Vietnam War draft and his past relationships harbor thorny truths. Finally choosing to reveal the truth and lies in his life and career, Leonard sits for an extended filmed interview with his former student Malcolm (Michael Imperioli), charging ahead with candid stories about his younger self (Jacob Elordi) in the fractious 1960s and beyond. At Leonard's insistence, his wife and indispensable partner, Emma (Uma Thurman), hears it all. Leonard's successes are held up against his failings--the fibs held up against the facts--and as the man in full is cleansed of the myth, Leonard must confront what is left.

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Critics Consensus

Anchored by Richard Gere's egoless performance, Oh Canada is a thorny and sometimes muddled memory play that fits solidly into director Paul Schrader's self-reflective filmography.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

Jan 9

3/5

It lacks the wild provocations of Schrader’s scalding recent trilogy, but Oh, Canada pokes and probes in quieter, sneakier ways.

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Adam Nayman

Sight & Sound

Dec 18

It’s a fine line between Late Style and helpless camp, and Oh, Canada walks it less sure-footedly than one might hope, although there’s something to be said for Schrader’s refusal to kowtow to fashion

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Stephen Romei

The Australian

04/03/2025

5/5

...this film has had a profound effect on me. I wept during it...It may not have the same impact on other viewers, but that is the nature of art, and of life.

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Christos Tsiolkas

The Saturday Paper

Jul 23

Can we separate the artist from the work? This tortured question, perennial and unanswerable, is at the heart of this quiet, reflective film. Oh, Canada’s strength is that it poses the dilemma without self-righteousness or superior certitude.

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Terry Staunton

Radio Times

Dec 24

3/5

Gere gives a great performance as a selfish, unlikeable character who's still held in awe by his acolytes, not least Michael Imperioli as the younger director...

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Clotilde Chinnici

The Indiependent

07/27/2025

4/5

With its nonlinear and contradictory storytelling, Schrader invites us into the mind of a brilliant man as he faces his last moments and questions what kind of legacy he will leave to the people who survive him.

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Ghederick Eshmont

12/21/2024

A brilliant meditation on the self-indulgence of the “draft dodgers” of the Vietnam era…however the film ends so abruptly, it questions the point?

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Mimi

12/14/2024

What a horrid, despicable, depressing look at someones life choices. What was Richard Gere thinking?? Do yourself a favor and go do anything, but see this film!

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Shannon P

12/14/2024

It was moving, confusing, sad, and a trip back to the Vietnam war era. Worth a watch, especially if you expetienced that era.

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Ass H

@RT22472815 May 7

Self indulgent , typical arrogant US crap with absolutely nothing to do with Canada, even as a draft dodger. Barf. Trying to be art.

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Vince Q.

@Vincedeq Nov 2

Starring Richard Gere and Uma Thurman. Fictional biopic resembles the final act of Magnolia, in which a “successful” man facing impending death wishes to confess his sins via camera. Genre is riveting as Leonard Fife, retelling his life story through the lens of medication, memory conflation, and raw recall, unfiltered by shame or fear, divulged with nothing to lose. He describes his personal arc from early draft avoidance through award-winning documentary filmmaker, and finally, to teacher. Top-notch writing and cool non-linear storytelling. Adapted from the award-winning novel of the same name by Russell Banks (1940-2023).

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Broke B

@Brok99 Oct 17

Sooooo slow. Telegraphed everything.

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Paul Schrader

Director

Richard Gere

Leo Fife

Jacob Elordi

Young Leo Fife

Uma Thurman

Emma

Michael Imperioli

Malcolm

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Synopsis

Fiery but feeling his years and his illness, ailing filmmaker Leonard Fife (Richard Gere) wants to tell his life story, unfiltered, before it's too late. As the director of lauded documentary exposés, he has much to be proud of, but his avoidance of the Vietnam War draft and his past relationships harbor thorny truths. Finally choosing to reveal the truth and lies in his life and career, Leonard sits for an extended filmed interview with his former student Malcolm (Michael Imperioli), charging ahead with candid stories about his younger self (Jacob Elordi) in the fractious 1960s and beyond. At Leonard's insistence, his wife and indispensable partner, Emma (Uma Thurman), hears it all. Leonard's successes are held up against his failings--the fibs held up against the facts--and as the man in full is cleansed of the myth, Leonard must confront what is left.

Director: Paul Schrader
Producer: David Gonzales, Tiffany Boyle, Luisa Law, Scott LaStaiti, Meghan Hanlon
Screenwriter: Paul Schrader
Distributor: Kino Lorber
Production Co: Northern Lights, Vested Interest, Ottocento Films, Left Home
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 6, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 21, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA): $199.0K
Runtime: 1h 35m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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