Oh, Canada.
Blame it on American arrogance or just not nearly enough of us venturing north of the border, but the popular perception of Canada is often that it's a lot like America, but with funny money and odd accents. Friends, let me tell you, Canada is a foreign country.
Having lived for some years in a small city just south of the Washington/British Columbia border, I can tell you there's very little familiar about Canada. More European than American, its cities are built around centers instead of sprawl, and the towns tend to err on the side of quaint.
Yes, there's currency bearing the image of the queen and the odd use of "eh" as an exclamation, but Canada's unique sense of solidarity seems to stem from something more abstract. There's a certain pleasantness to the Canadian people, a casual calm that seems to pervade the country.
True, there are the odd international controversies, such as the debate as to whether Quebec should secede, but for the most part, there's a real feeling that whatever is going on in the rest of the world, things will be fine in Canada.
Here are a few favorite films that use Canada as a backdrop and seem to illustrate my point:
THE 49TH PARALLEL: This beautifully shot but rarely seen thriller features Laurence Olivier as a French-Canadian trapper locked in battle with a stranded German U-boat crew trying to cross Canada to the relative safety of the United States before its entry into World War II. Sensitive and stirring, it's a great adventure yarn and love letter to the Canadian people.
THE GREY FOX (1982): A true Old West gentleman bandit, Richard Farnsworth's Bill Miner is a man out of time when, after 33 years in prison, he discovers robbing stagecoaches isn't much of a career anymore, so he switches to trains. Based on the true story of a Canadian folk hero, this subtle adventure features a stellar performance by a great actor and a picturesque postcard of wild Western Canada.
STRANGE BREW (1983): Perhaps this beer-soaked retelling of Hamlet isn't exactly Canada at its finest, but it might be Canada at its funniest. Far more creative than a based-on-sketch-comedy movie has any right to be, this story of two bumbling brothers' adventures in aledom made "hoser" a household word and established Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas as true talents in the rich Second City tradition.
HARD CORE LOGO (1996): A mock rock doc in the This Is Spinal Tap tradition, this charmingly offbeat film about a punk rock band on its last legs manages the enviable feat of being supremely silly while maintaining some heart. Filmed entirely in Canada, it also gives a fresh, funny perspective on music, youth and culture.
NORTHWEST PASSAGE (1940): Set in 18th century Canada, this rousing Technicolor adventure stars Spencer Tracy and Robert Young as trappers who find themselves embroiled in the very real battles of a nation of immigrants and Indians, both trying to find a place to call home. A movie so physical that it might leave bruises.
Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.
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