Escape to Canada

20051 h 21 min 2 secFilm: Documentary

Direction: Albert Nerenberg

Production: Shannon Brown (Elevator Films Inc.)Silva Basmajian (National Film Board of Canada)Albert Nerenberg (Elevator Films Inc.)

Script: Albert Nerenberg

A co-production of Elevator Films Inc. and the National Film Board of Canada, in association with The Documentary Channel, Movie Central and Canal D, with the participation of the Canadian Television Fund and Rogers Telefund.

Around the world, Canada is known for its beavers, Mounties and winter climate. But a new Canada has emerged in the past couple of years, famous for potent marijuana, gay marriage and pushing the limits of freedom.

Director Albert Nerenberg, the man behind the indie-documentary hit Stupidity, explores these events in the high-energy Escape to Canada, a cleverly crafted, tongue-in-cheek feature.

The story begins in 2003, when by apparent coincidence, gay marriage and marijuana are legalized on the same day. Coincidence or trend? Either way, quiet, boring Canada suddenly explodes.

Soon Canadians are not the only ones enjoying their newly forged liberties. Citizens from "The Land of the Free" flock across the border to marry their same-sex partners. Others come to smoke marijuana. AWOL U.S. army soldiers arrive to seek refugee status. To many, Canada has become a red-and-white beacon of freedom around the world.

Canada, used to being called cold, is suddenly "cool."

But within months, Canada re-criminalizes marijuana and there's a new campaign to turn back gay marriage. In his signature no-holds-barred style, Nerenberg reveals a never-before-seen Canada, in an action-packed voyage into freedom Canadian style.

Availability


Subject categories


  • Law and Crime > Drug Traffic and Substance AbuseLaws
  • Politics and Government - Canada > Federal Politics and Government
  • Sexuality and Reproduction > Sexual minorities (2SLGBTQ+ people)

Credits


writer
Albert Nerenberg
director
Albert Nerenberg
producer
Shannon Brown
Silva Basmajian
consulting producer
Jesse Ikeman
associate producer
Lori Kilback
narrator
Albert Nerenberg
head researcher
Areta Lloyd
editor
Wolfe Blackburn
consulting editor
Robert Kennedy
assistant editor
Dan Compton
David J. Bowie
Shane Corkery
David D'Uva
Dominika Dittwald
Sami Khan
Josh McLachlan
Laura Okuda-Hara
Marc Roy
Ed Wong
F/X editor
John Currie
Thomas Paloheimo
story consultant
John Kastner
director of photography
Shannon Brown
videographer
Tom Andruik
David Matthew Bonner
Dan Compton
Alain Dahan
David D'Uva
Rebecca Farenstein
Charles Gervais
Mandi Gorenstein
Raymond Hagel
Pano Iglezos
Nic Hyacinthe
James Nyfeler
Laura Okuda-Hara
Summer Preney
Granite Vision
Peter Williams
Rob Spence
Paul Salvalaggio
still photographer
Shannon Brown
researcher
Hillary burridge
Gail Greer
Marcia Kwok
Adriane Lam
Lisa Rose
Lusine Stepanian
intern
Akshaya Chinapa
Tasha McPhee
Throy Ross
Nishi Sood
dramatization
Dave Cormack
narration sound recording
Andreas Landau
B Musique
DKG Sound
sound studio recording engineer
Sound Dogs Toronto
additional sound design
Sound Dogs Toronto
accountant
Kay & Warburton
bookkeeper
Richard Gaskin
insurance
Creighton and Company
legal
Aird & Berlis
executive producer
Albert Nerenberg
Silva Basmajian