1. Film Studies -- Oh, Yeah Canada! Week Ten Canadian Auteurs and National Cinema Feature: You decide

2. National Cinema, a crash course “ Canada’s tradition grew out of an institution and a socialist-minded idea, nurtured by the “National Film Board” of showing Canadians honest reflections of themselves. The American, or Hollywood, film tradition began as a collective dream in the minds of several Jewish immigrants who were possessed by a desire to create pure fantasy and to reinvent the American Dream as an accessible, if entirely ethereal, ideal.” From Weird Sex and Snowshoes, Katherine Monk

3. National Cinema, a crash course In “National Cinema” theoretical perspective, we look for common motifs and patterns of meaning that explore the Canadian identity. … the risk in this is it might obscure diversity by leading to attempts to under-represent Canadian film that that does not conform to a pre-conceived notion of what Canadian identity. ( Giannetti 328) That’s why we also look at Canadian film under the lens of the “Auteur Theory.” (Authorship as artistic expression.)

4. Motifs of Canadian Film (from Katherine Monk, Weird Sex and Snowshoes ) . Morality, Passion, Survival. “Creative non-victimhood.” (Monk 26) Weird Sex, Snowscapes, Vast Landscapes, Survival guilt, (did I say weird/disfunctional sex?), Orphans, Fragmented narratives, Pluralism, Passive heroes, Potent women, Outsider stance. Plus … being “Rooted in Realism.” (Plus … we see the “usual suspects.”)

5. Styles and Types (Modes) of Films REALISM CLASSICISM FORMALISM Documentary F I C T I O N Avant-Garde Has Anyone Here Seen Canada Blinkety Blink Mon Oncle Antoine Men With Brooms waydowntown NB. These are not airtight categories and often overlap. styles Types (modes)

6. Zacharias Kanuk — Auteur . What do we know about Zacharias Kanuk? From imdb. Developed love of movies watching 16mm John Wayne films on Saturday nights at the local community center. Grew up in a sodhouse, one of six children of parents who hunted with dog sled and took care of the house in a 400-year-old survival culture devoid of money. Learned English beginning at age 9 when the Canadian government forced indigenous tribal children like him to attend parochial school, in Igloolik, the ancient locale of Atanarjuat. Has never shot film--only shoots digital video. He says the only training in filmmaking he has ever received was when he was shown how to recharge the battery on his camera.

8. ATANARJUAT — The Fast Runner (Zacharias Kanuk, 2001) . Writing credits Paul Apak Angilirq, Norman Cohn Language: Inuktitut Genre: Drama / Fantasy Plot Outline: The telling of an Inuit legend of an evil spirit causing strife in the community and one warrior's endurance and battle of its menace. Cast overview: Natar Ungalaaq .... Atanarjuat Sylvia Ivalu .... Atuat Peter-Henry Arnatsiaq .... Oki Lucy Tulugarjuk .... Puja WHAT IS YOUR GUT FEELING ABOUT THE “CINEMATOGRAPHY” OF THE LANDSCAPE?

10. Les Invasions Barbares (Denys Arcand, 2003) Writing credits Denys Arcand Genre: Drama / Comedy (more) Tagline: A provocative new comedy about sex, friendship, and all other things that invade our lives. Plot Summary: Having a difficult time accepting the reality of death and feeling regretful of his past, a man dying... Cast overview, first billed only: Rémy Girard .... Rémy Stéphane Rousseau .... Sébastien Dorothée Berryman .... Louise Louise Portal .... Diane From imdb

12. La face cachee de la lune ( The Far Side of the Moon ) (Robert Lepage, 2001) 112 minutes Writing credits Robert Lepage Genre: Drama Plot Outline: After the death of his mother, a man tries to discover a meaning to his life, to the universe and to rebuild a relationship with the only family he has left: his brother. (Canada’s official nod for 2005 Oscars) Credited cast: Robert Lepage .... Phillippe/André Céline Bonnier .... Nathalie Anne-Marie Cadieux.... Mother Marco Poulin … Carl

14. eXistenZ (David Cronenberg, 1999) 97 minutes Writing credits David Cronenberg DOP (Cinematographer): Peter Suschitzky Music: Howard Shore Genre: Sci- Fi / Crime / Drama / Thriller (more) Tagline: Play it. Live it. Kill for it. Plot Outline: Jennifer Jason Leigh stars as a game designer who creates a virtual-reality game that taps into the players' minds. (more) Cast: Jennifer Jason Leigh .... Allegra Geller Jude Law .... Ted Pikul Ian Holm .... Kiri Vinokur Willem Dafoe .... Gas Don McKellar .... Yevgeny Nouris

16. Waydowntown (Gary Burns, 2000) 87 minutes Waydowntown ( 2000 ) Directed by Gary Burns Writing credits Gary Burns Genre: Comedy (more) Plot Outline: A group of young employees bet a month's salary, winner takes all, on who can last the longest without going outside. (more) Cast: Fab Filippo .... Tom Don McKellar .... Brad Marya Delver .... Sandra West Gordon Currie .... Curt Schwin Jennifer Clement .... Vicki

18. EXOTICA (Atom Egoyan, 1994) ( 104 min) Writer: Atom Egoyan Tagline: In a world of temptation, obsession is the deadliest desire. Plot Outline: The 'Exotica' is a nightclub on the outskirts of Toronto, where Eric, DJ and MC, watches nightly as his ex-girlfriend Christina performs Cast: Francis … Bruce Greenwood Thomas … Don McKellar Tracey … Sarah Polley Christina … Mia Kirshner

19. Hard Core Logo (Bruce McDonald, 1986) Logline: 4 guys - 5 nights - 3000 miles - 764 gallons of gas - 987 bottles of beer - 3457 cigarettes - 1 last shot My Comment: “A cult classic that’s hard to rent because it’s always out.” (imdb) Cast overview: Hugh Dillon ....Joe Dick Callum Keith Rennie ....Billy Tallent John Pyper -Ferguson ....John Oxenberger Bernie Coulson .…Pipefitter Supported by the Ontario Film Development Commission

20. The Red Violin (François Girard, 1998) 2 hours, 11 minutes Writing credits Don McKellar and François Girard Genre: Drama / Romance / Mystery / Music Tagline: Passion Is Timeless Plot Outline: A red and perfect violin inspires passion, making its way through three centuries over several owners and countries, eventually ending up at an auction where it may find a new owner. Music Composer: John Corigliano (Academy Award winner for Altered States ) Cast overview Samuel L. Jackson .... Charles Morritz (Montréal) Sandra Oh .... Madame Ming (Montréal) Greta Scacchi .... Victoria Byrd (Oxford) Don McKellar .... Evan Williams (Montréal) From imdb