Oh, Canada (film)

Oh, Canada is a 2024 American drama film written and directed by Paul Schrader, based on the 2021 novel Foregone by Russell Banks. It stars Richard Gere, Uma Thurman, Michael Imperioli, Jacob Elordi, Victoria Hill, and Kristine Froseth. This marked the second collaboration between Gere and Schrader after American Gigolo as well as Schrader's second adaptation of a novel by Banks after 1997's Affliction.

The film had its world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2024.



Premise
The story delves into the life of a tormented writer on the brink of death, a Canadian-American leftist who fled to Canada to avoid the Vietnam War draft.

Leonard Fife (Richard Gere in the modern day, Jacob Elordi in flashbacks) is a terminally ill writer and filmmaker who has agreed to have his final testament of his life filmed by documentary filmmakers Malcolm (Michael Imperioli) and Diana (Victoria Hill), but proves to be an unreliable narrator due to his failing and distorted memory.

Cast

 * Richard Gere as Leonard Fife
 * Jacob Elordi as young Leonard Fife
 * Uma Thurman as Emma
 * Victoria Hill as Diana
 * Michael Imperioli as Malcolm
 * Penelope Mitchell as Sloan/Amy
 * Kristine Froseth as Alicia
 * Zach Shaffer as Cornel Fife

Production
The production received a SAG-AFTRA exemption and began filming in New York City in September 2023. It wrapped production three weeks later in October. In December 2023, it was announced Kristine Froseth, Michael Imperioli, and Uma Thurman had joined the cast of the film. Robert De Niro turned down Gere's part due to the low salary. Arclight Films, after producing Schrader's First Reformed, agreed to finance and represent sales of the movie at the European Film Market.