By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.25 cats
Director: Matthew Rankin
Starring: Brent Skagford | Catherine St-Laurent | Dan Beirne | Kee Chan | Louis Negin | Matthew Rankin | Mikhaïl Ahooja | Sarianne Cormier | Seán Cullen
Country: canada
Year: 2020
Running time: 90
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7969836/reference
Michael says: “You know you’re watching something perversely special when it features an ejaculating cactus. Paying liberal homage to the strangers films of Guy Maddin, Matthew Rankin’s first feature film is a wildly inventive, biopic (in the loosest sense of the word) of William Lyon MacKenzie King, an early 20th century Canadian Prime Minister. Satirizing everything that Canada is gently ribbed for today, from its unwillingness to offend, to its obsession with ice sports, Rankin’s film is hilarious, biting, witty, repellent, and ridiculous all at the same time. Urged on by his bed-ridden yet still domineering mother, MacKenzie King is the epitome of naively optimistic preparation as the day of the competition to test the ability to lead Canada approaches. Through a series of highly amusing tests of fortitude, competitors vie for the position, and while MacKenzie King is a top contender, there are others equally adept and prepared. The result sends him into a spiral that exposes some of his baser qualities, including a decidedly shameful fetish for sniffing women’s footwear. Redemption, war, unexpected romance, and competitive ice mazes are still to come in this unique film experience.
“Director Rankin, and Aert Director Dany Bolvin have created a visual phantasmagoria that is spellbinding and delightful, to match the offbeat quirkiness of the story. The actors are all supremely game, especially Dan Beirne, bringing a nearly angelic innocence with an absurd inner drive to bring MacKenzie King to twisted life, Sarianne Cormier, as the determined do-gooder Nurse Lapointe, and Brent Skagford as MacKenzie King’s most notable, moustache-twirling competitor, Arthur Meighen. There is much cross-gender casting, both in major parts, such as Mother, and background characters. While certainly not for everyone, if you’ve enjoyed any of Guy Maddin’s films, or if you have more than a passing interest in Canada, you should definitely check this amazing spectacle out 4 1/2 cats“
Bob says: “Oh, those wacky, madcap Canadians. Yes, there is certainly a Guy Maddin feel here, but I also got hints of early Lynch, with the horror of biology, that force we can never really understand or control (particularly where cacti are concerned). And the sets, especially for the exteriors! Angles upon angles, sort of reminiscent of CALIGARI but without the shadows. Can you be Caligari-esque sans chiaroscuro? Yes, Mother. Sure as a Winter’s day in Springtime.”
Chris says: “Nonsense of course, but I make room for it when it’s this weird; the production design here is baroque and inspired enough to make Guy Maddin’s cactus ejaculate. 3.5 cats”
Julie says: “Well worth seeing for the prod design alone- Very funny as well- Very BRAZIL-like – I have also seen reference to Monty Python which I never saw but Terry Gilliam is the common element in these latter two. The style of fellow Canadian director, screen writer Guy Maddin has also been mentioned and yes, THE SADDEST MUSIC IN THE WORLD would be similar for sure now that I’ve refreshed myself with the beginning of that trailer.
“4.5 cats– you must see- I was pleasantly surprised at how engaging and cleverly funny this film was.”