Elijah (film)

Elijah is a Canadian comedy-drama television film which was directed by Paul Unwin and broadcast by CTV in 2008.[1] An account of the life and career of Elijah Harper, the provincial MLA in Manitoba whose stand on First Nations rights brought down the Meech Lake Accord in 1990, the film blends animated and scripted segments to present Harper's political journey as a Swift-style satire reminiscent of Gulliver's Travels.[2]

Elijah
GenreDrama
Written byBlake Corbet
Directed byPaul Unwin
StarringBilly Merasty
Tina Louise Bomberry
Currie Graham
Glen Gould
Maury Chaykin
Theme music composerTerry Frewer
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersBlake Corbet
Gigi Boyd
Kevin Eastwood
Chris Leeson
Lisa Meeches
CinematographyMichael Marshall
EditorsFranco Pante
Lenka Svab
Running time90 minutes
Production companiesAnagram Pictures
Eagle Vision
Release
Original networkCTV
Original release
  • September 30, 2007 (2007-09-30) (CIFF)
  • May 25, 2008 (2008-05-25) (CTV)

The film stars Billy Merasty as Harper, Tina Louise Bomberry as his wife Elizabeth, Currie Graham as Gary Filmon, Glen Gould as Phil Fontaine, and Maury Chaykin as Howard Pawley, as well as Michael Peterson as Harper in childhood, Gregory Dominic Odjug as Harper in his teenage years, and Lorne Cardinal, Morris Birdyellowhead and Gary Farmer in supporting roles.

Production

The film went into production in summer 2006,[3] with some shooting in the real Legislative Assembly of Manitoba building.[4]

Distribution

The film premiered theatrically at the 2007 Calgary International Film Festival,[5] and was screened at the Vancouver International Film Festival[6] and the ImagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival,[7] prior to being broadcast by CTV on May 25, 2008.[1]

Critical response

John Doyle of The Globe and Mail wrote that "the movie's jaunty tone doesn't always click - it sags into sentimentality in the middle - but it's often gloriously funny and smart. The scenes in which Mulroney's posse tries to shift Harper's position are hilarious. Maury Chaykin is excellent as former Manitoba premier Howard Pawley and Glen Gould does a ferocious turn as native leader Phil Fontaine. Written by Blake Corbet and directed by Paul Unwin, Elijah is one wonderful attempt to make the Meech mess a scorching comedy, but anchored by one truly principled man."[1]

Awards
Award Date of Ceremony Category Nominees Result Reference
Leo Awards 2008 Best Feature Length Drama Blake Corbet, Mary Anne Waterhouse, Gigi Boyd, Ki Wight, Kevin Eastwood Won [8]
Best Screenwriting in a Feature Length Drama Blake Corbet Won
Best Production Design in a Feature Length Drama Tony Devenyi Nominated [9]
Best Musical Score in a Feature Length Drama Terry Frewer Won
Best Picture Editing in a Feature Length Drama Franco Pante, Lenka Svab Nominated [9]
Best Overall Sound in a Feature Length Drama Greg Stewart, Ian Emberton, Scott Aitken, Ken Biehl Nominated
Best Sound Editing in a Feature Length Drama Ken Biehl, Ian Emberton, Stephen Cheung, Don Harrison, Ian Mackie Nominated
Best Visual Effects in a Feature Length Drama James Tichenor, Terry Hutcheson, Mark T. Reid, Michael Ranalletta, Andria Spring, Dave McGhie Nominated
Gemini Awards 2009 Best Television Movie Blake Corbet, Gigi Boyd, Kevin Eastwood, Chris Leeson, Lisa Meeches, Mary Anne Waterhouse Won [10]
Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Blake Corbet Won
Best Sound in a Dramatic Program Ken Biehl, Scott Aitken, Stephen Cheung, Ian Emberton, Don Harrison, Ian Mackie, Greg Stewart Nominated [11]
Best Original Music for a Dramatic Program, Mini-Series or TV Movie Terry Frewer Nominated

References
  1. John Doyle, "In politics, truth is stranger than fiction". The Globe and Mail, May 23, 2008.
  2. Glen Schaefer, "Native MLA brought gov't down". The Province, May 23, 2008.
  3. "Elijah in Elijah". Hamilton Spectator, August 30, 2006.
  4. Brad Oswald, "'No' way, 'no' how". Winnipeg Free Press, May 25, 2008.
  5. "Going Out. Sept 21-27". Calgary Herald, September 21, 2007.
  6. Katherine Monk, "Elijah -- man who nixed Meech -- more like movie of the week". Vancouver Sun, October 8, 2007.
  7. Rick Salutin, "When to use a feather". The Globe and Mail, October 19, 2007.
  8. Yvonne Zacharias, "Films about politician, car crash win Leos". Vancouver Sun, May 26, 2008.
  9. Alison Cunningham, "Normal, Brightlight lead pack at 10th Leos". Playback, May 12, 2008.
  10. "Geminis come home". The Province, October 22, 2009.
  11. "Gemini Nominees: Craft Categores". Playback, October 12, 2009.
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