Canadian cinema is in desperate need of a rebrand. Between David Cronenberg’s Videodrome and the slice-of-life documentarian style of the National Film Board, Canada has struggled to find it’s footing in regards to a cohesive international film identity. Enter Guy Maddin. His film, Rumours, serves as a bit of a rocky start for the “Winnipeg Weird Wave”.

Rumours drops us in a world of privilege, distance, and insufferable polititians. Our ensemble of world leaders are so far removed from the problems of society that they don’t even imply what “the crisis” is that they are solving. When they are abandoned in the woods at the dawn of the apocalypse, they’re forced to fend for themselves against giant brains, masturbating zombies, and – of course – each other.

Casting is by far the greatest strength of the film. The ensemble cast headed by Cate Blanchett is delightful, with each as a hilarious caricature of countries. French Canadian actor Roy Dupuis is a natural in his role of an alcoholic Trudeau-esque Prime Minister. His chemistry with both Blanchet and Nikki Amuka-Bird (as the British Prime Minister) is intangible and hilarious and one of the most endearing aspects of the film.

However, Rumours has three directors at the helm, and it suffers for it. The style and tone is inconsistent at best and much of the humor in the back half of the film leaves something to be desired. For a film satirizing the G7 world leaders, there is a lot of missed potential for some biting political commentary that is lost to a lot of meandering and walking around. 

Is Rumours the savior of the Canadian cinematic identity? No, probably not. Regardless, it’s good to see creative and fun films born out of the True North.