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Richard Gere and Jacob Elordi star in Paul Schrader‘s latest, highly anticipated film ‘Oh, Canada,’ which premieres at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday.
Based on the late Russell Banks’ 2021 novel “Foregone,” the film centers on Gere’s Leonard Fife, an acclaimed filmmaker and “one of 60,000 draft evaders and deserters who fled to Canada to avoid serving in Vietnam” who “shares all his secrets to de-mythologize his mythologized life.” Elordi plays the younger version of Leonard.
In this first-look clip, Gere’s Leonard speeds up to someone’s home, gets out of a car and walks toward the gate. “Amanda was a jazz pianist,” his voiceover begins. “She said she was the mistress of Gerry Mulligan, but he was always on the road.” Then, the footage displays the film’s magic trick, as Elordi’s younger Leonard appears, pushing open the home’s gate and peering in the window, while the voiceover continues: “Amy. Amanda. Alicia. All those A’s…”
The film, which debuts in Cannes’ official competition lineup, reunites Schrader with his “American Gigolo” star Gere after more than 40 years. In addition to Gere and Elordi (who is hot off breakthrough turns in “Saltburn” and “Priscilla”), the drama also stars Academy Award nominee Uma Thurman and Emmy winner Michael Imperioli. “Oh Canada” is produced by David Gonzales alongside Tiffany Boyle, Luisa Law, Scott LaStaiti and Meghan Hanlon.
While the clip doesn’t reveal much about the film’s plot, Schrader teased the premise to Variety earlier this year. “Fife is dying and realizing that his whole life has been built on lies and he is trying to confront himself before he dies,” Schrader said, unpacking the film’s themes further in an extensive profile.
The character, an enigmatic American, built a career working in nonfiction film, while his entire life was built around a creation myth that is largely bullshit. “As Fife battles cancer in Montreal during his twilight years, he agrees to one final interview,” a synopsis explains. “Intent on revealing his long-guarded secrets and demystifying his mythologized life, Fife’s shocking confession unfolds amidst the presence of his wife and producing partner, Emma (Thurman), his devoted former student Malcolm MacLeod (Imperioli), and a team of filmmakers capturing this profound moment.”
Arclight Films is handling international sales of the film, while domestic rights are co-represented by WME Independent and David Gonzales.
Richard Gere and Uma Thurman in “Oh, Canada.”
