Does Canada have classic movies?
When we think of classic American movies, the list goes on and on – It’s a Wonderful Life, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Sixth Sense, etc., etc., etc. When we think of Canadian classics we think of . . . ?
In Issue 8’s history feature, we asked the question – does Canada have classic movies? To answer it, we took a journey through the convoluted history of the Canadian film industry. And we encountered some incredible Canadian films along the way.
This September! Toronto Journal presents the Canadian Classics Film Festival! Four of our favourite classic Canadian movies, each screened once. All proceeds go toward sustaining our perpetually grantless little lit mag and the voices we publish.
Fall in love at Rosedale Station, see 1960s Montreal behind the wheel of a wandering snow plow, take in the Toronto drag scene of the 1970s, and cap it all off with one of the greatest documentaries ever made.
See below for tickets.
Nobody Waved Goodbye (1964)
Drama
English Canada’s first great film. Teenage rebellion in a Toronto suburb in the 1960s.
Set and filmed in Toronto.
Screening on September 8th at 7pm
Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Ave, Toronto
The Merry World of Léopold Z (La Vie heureuse de Léopold Z) (1965)
Comedy
By legendary filmmaker Gilles Carle. This comedy follows a snow plow operator on Christmas Eve and his misadventures as he tries to run several errands on the job. It won the Grand Prix at the Montreal International Film Festival.
Set and filmed in Montreal.
Screening on September 13th at 3pm
Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Ave, Toronto
Outrageous! (1977)
Comedy/Drama
Cult classic. The heartwarming story of a drag queen and a schizophrenic woman who find themselves living together in 70s Toronto. It was both controversial and successful, receiving theatrical release in the U.S.
Set and filmed in Toronto and NYC.
Screening on September 14th at 7pm
Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Ave, Toronto
Stories We Tell (2012)
Documentary
Film legend Sarah Polley investigates her family history with several twists and turns along the way.
Set and filmed in Toronto and Montreal.
Screening on September 30th at 7pm
Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Ave, Toronto
Nobody Waved Goodbye, The Merry World of Léopold Z (La Vie heureuse de Léopold Z), and Stories We Tell provided courtesy of the National Film Board of Canada. Thank you!