At TIFF, and in Washington, Quebec’s film industry finds itself in the hot seat
The documentary 'Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney' premieres at TIFF, sparking a discussion on the state of Quebec's film industry. The article explores the tension between provincial cultural protectionism and the broader Canadian political landscape.
Why it matters
It reflects the ongoing debate regarding Canadian cultural sovereignty and the economic challenges faced by regional film industries.
In the new documentary Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney – a madcap assemblage of archival footage from the acclaimed Montreal-based director Matthew Rankin ( Universal Language ), which will premiere Tuesday at the Toronto International Film Festival – Canada’s 18th prime minister is introduced with a telling quote.
Speaking with a reporter back in the eighties, Mr. Mulroney decries the diminished state of Canada’s “entrepreneurial spirit,” going on to insist that the farmers, fishermen and small business owners who risk their lives and capital will “get less of a tax break than somebody who wants to make a third-rate movie that you wouldn’t even show in your basement.”
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