NFB Collection
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