As the Berlinale gets underway, so does the annual European Film Market and its sales, with several buzzy titles at this year’s trade fair. Among them? Paul Schrader‘s next pic, “Oh, Canada!,” the director’s long-gestating adaptation of Russell Banks‘ 2021 novel “Foregone.” But “Oh, Canada!” had buzz going back to early 2023, when it became clear the film would reunite Schrader and “American Gigolo” star Richard Gere for the first time in over forty years.
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Since then, however, more names have joined the “Oh, Canada!” cast: up-and-comer Jacob Elordi (the Richard Gere of his era?), Uma Thurman, Michael Imperioli, and Zach Shaffer. And now The Film Stage reports that Arclight Films has new first-look images from the movie ahead of its sales at EFM. Schrader wrapped shooting on “Oh, Canada!” late last year, so expect it be ready in time for a big film festival later this year. Maybe a Venice premiere on the Lido like “Master Gardener“?
Here’s an official synopsis for “Oh, Canada!,” courtesy of Arclight Films:
“Oh, Canada depicts the story of famed documentary filmmaker Leonard Fife, an American leftist who fled to Canada as a young man to avoid the Vietnam War draft. As Fife battles cancer in Montreal during his twilight years, he agrees to a final interview. Intent on revealing his long-guarded secrets and demystifying his mythologized life, Fife’s shocking confession unfolds amidst the presence of his wife, Emma (Uma Thurman), his devoted former student Malcolm MacLeod (Michael Imperioli), and a team of filmmakers capturing this profound moment.”
Schrader talked to Variety last month about his upcoming film, and what it was like working with Gere again after decades apart. “We were all dealing with mortality issues as Leonard does in the film. You get to the point where you wonder how many bullets you have left in the gun,” the director said about making “Oh, Canada!.” “Fife is dying and realizing that his whole life has been built on lies and he is trying to confront himself before he dies.” And while Schrader insists that his new movie is a pivot for the thematic similarities of his past three films —“Everybody likes a trilogy, but after that people tune out,” he joked to the outlet — he insists “Oh, Canada!” is a one-off of sorts. “I’ve now made my film about confronting death. I’m now ready to move on to other things.”
Elordi plays Gere’s Fife as a young man in the film, and Schrader thinks Elordi was a perfect casting choice. “The historic model was “Gigolo” and finding someone with that kind of electricity,” Schrader said. “We could not have got a better actor to play the younger Richard.” Elordi is one of Hollywood’s hottest rising stars right now, thanks to “Saltburn,” “Priscilla,” and “The Sweet East” last year. “Oh, Canada!” is one of three upcoming films for the young actor, along with Guillermo del Toro‘s “Frankenstein” and the drama “On Swift Horses.” So 2024 may be an even bigger year for Jacob Elordi, especially if “Oh, Canada!” makes waves.
So when and where will Paul Schrader’s latest have its world premiere? We may have an answer to that question by the time the Berlinale is over. In the mean time, check out first-look images from “Oh, Canada!” below.
