The Canadian film industry’s latest and greatest production is not the triumphant tale of our soldiers during the First World War, nor is it about a northern Ontario curling team vying for a trophy.
In fact, it’s only tangentially connected to Paul Gross.
Instead, this Canadian-written, produced and directed film is the aptly titled Hobo with a Shotgun. Ridiculous as it may be, Hobo is nevertheless a fun flick, and it’s proof positive that the Canadian film industry has the capacity to produce enjoyable, crowd-pleasing features.
But Hobo with a Shotgun is the exception, not the rule. While Canada has a legacy of high quality films and filmmakers, its most famous movies are less like cinematic works and more like thinly-veiled excuses for patriotism, with messages so blatant they have the unfortunate effect of showcasing national insecurity in lieu of pride.
So rather than write films that feel like prose renditions of “O Canada,” our movie industry should set its sights on filmmaking for filmmaking’s sake. The majority of critically and commercially successful American films don’t have to defer to half-assed jingoism or sell themselves as “American movies.”
Canada can make good movies. It has made good movies — great ones, even. But more importantly, our film industry can do it without shoehorning cringe-worthy patriotism into every film they put out. As much as it may peeve our national pride, we need to start looking for tips south of the 49th parallel rather than wallowing in artificial nationalism.