Any Anti-Creation-ists Out There?

Apparently there’s an uproar in the Canadian film community over the fact that the programmers for this year’s Toronto International Film Festival is breaking an unwritten rule by not opening the fest with a homegrown feature… apparently…

An article in yesterday’s Toronto Star by columnist Martin Knelman, about TIFF’s decision to screen the British Darwin-themed drama Creation, begins as follows:

“Is it a slap in the face to the Canadian movie industry?

“Or is it a welcome sign the Toronto International Film Festival has grown out of the flag-waving parochialism that sometimes made visitors from New York and L.A. roll their eyes?”

Knelman’s piece also proclaims that the decision is “bound to cause shockwaves,” however among who exactly remains unclear. He interviews festival programmer Cameron Bailey, who gives the honest (and appropriately diplomatic) answer when asked why a British film is taking the Canadian slot: “We just fell in love with this movie.”

Yet there’s nobody interviewed, or even mentioned who’s upset with the decision – just who is Bailey defending against?

I figured that at the very least there would be some voices crying foul in the comment section underneath the online version of the article, but none of the six comments posted there – at the time of me writing this, anyhow – are against the decision. I was actually surprised as just how in favour most of them are, like, angrily in favour.

For example, “StellaBella” exclaims:

Well done, TIFF! And I truly mean it. Bailey and Handling [the other programmer] put on their big boy pants and picked the best of what was on offer. Maybe next year there will be a Canadian movie worthy of the top spot. Maybe not. But maybe this will be a wake-up call to an industry that hasn't produced anything world-class in ages.

“Harumph” complains:

I can always tell a Canadian film on television, after a few seconds – inferior cinematography, sound, dialogue, editing; in short, corners cut everywhere. I played a lead in one, twenty years ago (to be fair, it was half-"produced" in the States). I must say, too, that much of the acting is intestinally constrained (or tight-assed, if you prefer), and many of the performers have a northern British look, not wholly attractive.

“Magregrrr” rails:

Fer cryin' out loud ... It's an INTERNATIONAL film festival. Or would we rather showcase the TIFF with a battle cry such as: "Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of ... mediocre, ever sub-par CBC programming ..."

Trying to untangle the briar patch in the quagmire that is the dysfunctional Canadian film (and when I say “Canadian,” I mean English Canada, of course, because Quebec has its own thriving film industry) in a single article isn’t possible; I took entire courses about Canadian media in University that looked at our attitudes towards, and problems with, our own film and television. However, there are some basic truths to be gleaned here.

Firstly, we know our cinematic and televisual media generally pales (or, as many would say, “sucks”) in comparison to that of the U.S., which we absorb much of all the time, being such close neighbours ‘n’ all. We’ve seen enough multiplex films to know what can be done (and promoted) on budgets that dwarf those of our own movies.

Secondly, we may be hosers but we’re not idiots, and we don’t like it when the government, or film festivals, or anyone tries to tell us that something is better than it is. You can call a doughnut a “cake” but you’re not fooling anyone. Knelman points out in his piece that producer Ivan Reitman turned down the TIFF opening gala slot for Atom Egoyan’s new film because the night has turned into a joke – considered “an exercise in dull Canadian self-congratulation.”

Thirdly, these kind of attempts at cultural protectionism backfire. We have this inferiority complex, where we worry what the Big Boys in New York and L.A. will think of us (valid concerns if you’re trying to build a reputation within an international film community). And nobody wants to be the fat kid who gets the “participation” medal – your peers might politely clap for you, but they’re sure as hell not going to pick you first for the baseball team.

The worst part of it all is the negative attitude it creates towards Canuck movies. When “StellaBella” says, “But maybe this will be a wake-up call to an industry that hasn't produced anything world-class in ages,” she’s making an unfair (or uniformed) generalization. Some of the best movies I’ve seen in the past few years include a bunch of Canadian titles, such as 2006’s Away From Her (this one floored me – it rules), Cronenberg career highlights A History of Violence (2005) and Eastern Promises (2007), Radiant City (2006), Fido (2006) and Pontypool (2008).

Knelman ends his column by saying that “opening night will cease to be a ghetto,” and that’s the bottom line. As someone who programs films, I can tell ya that you’ve got to show work that your audience will come and see, and you can’t force them to like anything just because it’s good for… for what? Our national identity?

More importantly, as an audience member, you just want to trust that you’re seeing something worth your money, time and effort. And that’s why I doubt there will be a lot of tears of beers spilled over the TIFF decision to open with Creation. After all, the industry’s gotta evolve somehow.

-Dave Alexander