Souvenir of Canada

A true souvenir, that brings fond memories of a Canada that is fading fast. "Pre-nostalgia" -as Coupland describes the sensation. The film is remarkably emotional without being overly sentimental. The honest exposure of his relationships (especially with his parents) and his feelings about being Canadian really resonated with me. I also appreciated how the filmmakers selected and weighted the experiences which are uniquely Canadian. Intelligent and informed commentary leads us through each segment or topic, using a varied number of approaches, most of which are refreshing and integral to the topic. The rhythm of the film is gentle, thoughtful, so Canadian. Lots of laughter, much of it self-deprecating, and a bit of teary eyes. And the most violent scene is a raptor-like excavator crunching its way through a meaningful moment which we have all just shared. Beautiful camera-work. Wonderful music from A.C. Newman, and editing that doesn't miss a beat. And how refreshing to see icons which are intensely meaningful, but not clichés. Right on, eh?