As Lin Manuel-Miranda has proven with HAMILTON, History is more fun with song and dance. The movie STAND! is based on the stage musical STRIKE! based on the milestone event of the Winnipeg General Strike, a groundbreaking happening for the Union rights movement. The film begins with Canadian soldiers returning from WWI at Winnipeg's Union Station. Another landmark building to make an appearance is Manitoba's provincial parliament buildings, the setting for one of the shows rousing anthems. The authentic locals and the aspiring songs are two of the film's strengths. Another strength is the diversity of the characters: Jewish, Ukrainian, Black, Scandinavian, and other cultures that compose Winnipeg's rich mosaic such as the Aboriginal people that make up a large component of Winnipeg's demographic. The First Nations are represented by Gabriel Daniels who plays Gabriel Chartrand. The director purposely avoids the "drunken Indian" cliche in a bar scene where Chartrand exits the bar but it is a white patron who is the drunk. The show is a must for Canadians proud of their history and heritage.
