Being Canadian

Robert Cohen takes a seriocomic look at Canadian identity in this self-described home movie (possibly so-called because many of his friends, such as comedian Dana Gould, appear here). Working in Hollywood as a sitcom writer and traveling extensively outside of Canada, Cohen has encountered every variety of stereotype about his fellow Canadians. Here, he travels across Canada, starting in Nova Scotia and ending in Vancouver for Canada Day, while also incorporating comments from non-Canadians, who tend to characterize the country as clean, cold, and white. Cohen thinks the widespread ignorance stems from indifference, since Canada rarely appears in the news. Because Cohen is a comedy writer, it's not surprising to hear from SNL and SCTV performers. As Martin Short notes, Canadians and Americans look much the same. “It's almost as if they're Russian spies dressed up as Americans.” Cohen also looks at Canadians' “supposedly boring history,” tolerance for low temperatures, and reputation for niceness. If Canadians are known for apologizing for anything at the drop of the hat, some speakers believe that the overly polite façade hides some intense passive-aggressiveness. As Michael J. Fox points out, the national sport—hockey—is hardly genteel. Other speakers include Seth Rogen, Alan Thicke, and members of the power rock trio Rush. Some of these are standard interviews, others not: Cohen speaks with Jason Priestley, for instance, in front of a fireplace with beers and a small dog at their side, while he chats with Dave Foley in bed. Anyone who has ever felt simultaneously proud of and embarrassed by his or her hometown is likely to relate to Cohen's findings. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)