Top 10 Canadian Films
Forget about Hollywood; if you want great movies. look no further than the Great White North. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down our picks for the Top 10 Canadian Movies. For this list, we're taking a look at the best theatrical movies from the Canadian Film Industry.
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Script written by Noah Levy
#10: “My Winnipeg” (2007)
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Our first entry weighs in boasting a 4/4 from Roger Ebert and a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Not too shabby. A surrealist mockumentary about the titular city, “My Winnipeg” chronicles one man’s journey to escape it. After being commissioned by the Documentary Channel for the project, director Guy Maddin was told not to tell the same old Winnipeg-is-a-frozen-hellhole story. Instead, he centered the film on a fictional version of himself and made a documentary about the city as he tries to film his way out of it. The end result is a visually stunning masterpiece.
#9: “Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner” (2001)
To the outside world, not much is known about Canada’s arctic indigenous Inuit people. This film, helmed by Canadian Inuk filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk, is the retelling of a legend about a tight knit Inuit group. It broke the mold for Canadian movies, as the entirety of the film was directed and acted in Inuktitut, a principal Inuit language. “Atanarjuat” achieved major success on the awards circuit, winning the Camera d’Or at Cannes, multiple awards at the Genies, and a slew of independent awards. Perhaps most impressively, in a poll of filmmakers and critics, the Toronto International Film Festival named it the Greatest Canadian Film of All Time in 2015.
#8: “The Sweet Hereafter” (1997)
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It’s rare to come across an author who really approves of the movie version of his or her book, let alone freely admits it is better than his or her book. But Russell Banks, author of the novel version of “The Sweet Hereafter,” did just that. Building on his breakout hit, “Exotica,” director Atom Egoyan remained true to his source material, beautifully converting Banks’ tragic story of a school bus accident that leaves 14 children dead and the soul-crushing aftermath to the silver screen. The drama was so moving it earned three awards at Cannes, including the prestigious Grand Prize of the Jury, and was nominated for two Academy Awards, including Best Director.
#7: “Les Invasions barbares” (2003)
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We don’t typically have high expectations for sequels, but this follow-up to 1986’s award-winning “Le Déclin de l'empire américain” set a new standard for excellence. Picking up 17 years after the events of the first film, this comedy-drama tells the story of main character Rémy’s battle with cancer and how he reconnects with his son during such a difficult period. It was an award season hit, collecting the César awards for Best Picture, Director, and Original Screenplay, as well as Best Actress and Screenplay at Cannes. Most importantly, however, thanks to its intelligence, irony and themes, “The Barbarian Invasions” earned Canada’s first ever win for Best Foreign Language film at the Academy Awards.
#6: “Mommy” (2014)
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“Mommy” is a tamer effort than director Xavier Dolan’s 2009 success, “I Killed My Mother,” but still doesn’t hold back. The 2014 drama tells the story of a widow, Diane, who deinstitutionalizes her son when she realizes the best place for him to improve may be home. Sending a touching message about family, love, and struggle, the film was a critical success. It premiered at Cannes, where it received a 13-minute standing ovation and won the Jury Prize. It also won nine Canadian Screen Awards, including for Best Motion Picture, which isn’t bad at all considering it was shot on what’s now considered a measly $4.9 million dollar budget. Two years later, Dolan would again take home trophies from the Cannes Film Festival when his drama "It's Only the End of the World" won the Grand Prix and the Ecumenical Jury Prize.
#5: “C.R.A.Z.Y.” (2005)
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Set in Quebec between the 1960s-80s, this drama sees director and co-writerJean-Marc Vallée weave a beautifully tragic story about a young boy coming to terms with his homosexuality while having to deal with four brothers and a conservative father. It is a raw portrayal of the struggle so many in the homosexual community face and it ultimately leaves you sad, touched, and happy at the same time. Thanks to its incredible acting, honesty, and touching tale, his critically acclaimed gem won the City Award for Best Canadian Feature Film at the Toronto International Film Festival, and earned multiple Jutra Awards.
#4: “Incendies” (2010)
Ostensibly, this movie can be described as two siblings’ journey to uncover the story of their mother’s life after she passes away by traveling to her birthplace. However, that wouldn’t do justice to the brilliantly designed, intricate storytelling constructed by director and co-writer Denis Villeneuve. This epic about a brave mother’s life and her twin children’s expedition to discover it exists both in the present and through flashbacks. Every scene covers a range of emotions, begging the viewer to truly contemplate the complexities of the film. Nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars, the mystery drama also earned a large collection of accolades, including eight – yes eight- Genies.
#3: “Juno” (2007)
With an all-star cast including Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jason Batemen, Jennifer Garner, and J.K. Simmons, is it really a surprise to see “Juno” on this list? This comedy-drama follows Page’s fiercely sarcastic Juno and Cera’s awkward Paulie as they face an unplanned pregnancy. Despite tackling such a controversial theme, it received praise from both pro-life and pro-choice advocates for its depiction of abortion. It earned four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Director, Actress, and Original Screenplay, which it won. And though they were already on their way, we can thank “Juno” for helping propel Page, Cera, and director Jason Reitman into stardom.
#2: “Monsieur Lazhar” (2011)
Another film that tugs at the heartstrings, “Monsieur Lazhar” centers on an Algerian immigrant who takes over a Canadian elementary school classroom after one of its teachers commits suicide. He helps the students come to grips with the trauma of losing their teacher, while also dealing with his own tragic backstory. Considered one of the best films of 2012, the drama won big time on the awards circuit, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and winning 6 Genie and 7 Jutra awards. Perhaps more importantly though, it taught a poignant lesson about life, loss, and acceptance.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Away from Her” (2006)
“The Red Violin” (1998)
“Hard Core Logo” (1996)
“Cube” (1997)
#1: “Videodrome” (1983)
With David Cronenberg at the helm, you can’t be blamed for having high expectations. But we’re not sure anyone could’ve predicted this brilliant early effort from the Canadian director. When the president of a sensationalist Toronto TV network begins airing a new program based on violence and torture, he soon discovers he’s actually stumbled upon a mind-control conspiracy. This surrealist film didn’t perform too well commercially, and only picked up small notice on the awards circuit. However, it has had a much stronger cultural impact, especially over time. The sci fi body horror flick set a new standard for science fiction and dystopian films, and has since cemented itself as a cult classic. While Cronenberg’s “Eastern Promises” deserves plenty of love, the utterly unique “Videodrome” is his finest hour.
Do you agree with our list? What do you think is the best Canadian Film? For more interesting Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
