“Oh, Canada”: Jacob Elordi and Richard Gere join forces for Paul Schrader
With “Oh, Canada”, legendary director Paul Schrader returns to the introspective cinema for which he is renowned. Starring Jacob Elordi and Richard Gere, this film explores the weight of the past and the paths to redemption. Scheduled to hit cinemas on December 18, 2024, it promises to leave its mark on the end of this cinematic year.
Richard Gere & Jacob Elordi , an intergenerational encounter
Paul Schrader’s new feature film features a surprisingly promising cast. Jacob Elordi, rising star revealed by the series Euphoria and recently acclaimed for his role in Priscilla, shares the screen with the iconic Richard Gere. Together, they portray a single character, Leonard Pike, at two key stages in his life: his youth and his final days. This bold choice, typical of Schrader, offers a narrative split between past and present, where regret and redemption intersect.
Uma Thurman completes the trio with an enigmatic role, playing a key figure in the protagonist’s life. This casting adds emotional depth to an already complex story.
Paul Schrader, master of introspective narratives
At 77, Paul Schrader continues to push the narrative boundaries of cinema. Screenwriter of Martin Scorsese’s masterpieces Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, Schrader has always explored the intricacies of the human psyche. With Oh, Canada, he draws on the posthumous work of writer Russell Banks, an author who had already influenced his 1998 film Affliction.
In this new opus, Schrader puts the spotlight on a man on the verge of the end of his life. Leonard Pike, played by Elordi and Gere, is a successful author confronted with his own memories and ghosts. Caught up in a quest for meaning, he attempts to rewrite the story of his life, literally and figuratively, in a last-ditch attempt to reconcile himself with his past.
An intimate fresco about the weight of memories
Shot in just 17 days, Oh, Canada promises a pared-down, intense mise-en-scène. The story alternates between the 1960s, when the young Leonard discovers his literary ambitions, and the present, where he is surrounded by his loved ones as he confronts illness. Canada, the film’s main setting, plays a symbolic role, representing both a refuge and a space of inner confrontation.
Schrader’s recurring themes – guilt, loneliness and the search for redemption – find a powerful echo here. The viewer is invited to travel between eras and emotions, in a film that blends memories and confessions.
A tribute to a career in film and literature
Oh, Canada is also a posthumous tribute to Russell Banks, the writer whose work inspired the film. True to form, Schrader takes literary material and turns it into a personal and universal cinematic reflection. The film, which premiered at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, has already won rave reviews.
Why see Oh, Canada? not just for Richard Gere
With its cross-generational cast, introspective narrative and Paul Schrader’s mastery of the genre, Oh, Canada promises to be a must-see. The film offers Jacob Elordi a rare opportunity to star alongside Richard Gere, in a demanding and striking role. For fans of auteur cinema, it’s another piece in the fascinating puzzle of Schrader’s filmography.
In theaters December 18, 2024, Oh, Canada promises to be an introspective and moving cinematic journey, perfect for closing out the year in style.
