Weird Sex and Snowshoes: And Other Canadian Film Phenomena

by Katherine Monk, Atom Egoyan (Foreword)

Monk is tired of hearing critics bash Canadian film and culture generally, and lionizing mediocre talent just because it hails from south of the border. A music critic and entertainment writer for the Vancouver Sun and Canadian radio, she looks at over 100 Canadian films and hears from filmmakers in order to capture the essence of the Canadian film experience. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Genres: Nonfiction, Canada, Film

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[David Emery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Monk is knowledgable and funny, and her connections are interesting if a bit theory heavy. The book focuses on late 20th century films, so there's a lot missing, and many of Monk's arguments tend to lean on the same films and directors. But it's a good primer for Canadian films, histories, and personalities circa 2001.

[Trent Spiwak · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting look at Canadian cinema! I liked how it compared our films to the films of Nordic regions, there is something Canadian about the films of Ingmar Bergman. Understandably dated (there's a reference to the World Trade Center bombings of 1993; book's publication date? August 2001) but its still got lots of merit

[Justin Decloux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good thematic Canadian cinema primer. Touches on a lot of late 90's-early 2000s films that don't get discussed very much.

[Nyah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of info and personality, would love an updated version with the last 25 years of canadian film

[Tom Newth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very readable, but Monk's REALLY proud to be Canadian. which is not a bad thing, but does tend to some tunnel-vision, a heavy reliance on generalization, and some wooly dismissals of pretty much all things american. also, heavily biased towards the last 30 or so years, with little on the nfb, and next to nothing on the nfb breakouts of the 60s nor the tax shelter years.

[Rangifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive listing and analysis of Canadian film up to 2002. Was assigned reading from this text book in film school and fell in love with the format to keep on my shelf and use as a reference for some more obscure titles for years to come. Plus, how can you resist that catchy title?