All Of It – Episode Summary: Paul Schrader on 'O Canada'

Podcast Information:

• Title: All Of It
• Host: Alison Stewart
• Episode: Paul Schrader on 'O Canada'
• Release Date: December 4, 2024
• Description: ALL OF IT is a show about culture and its consumers, engaging thinkers, doers, makers, and creators to explore the what and why of their work.

Introduction to 'O Canada'

In this episode of All Of It, host Alison Stewart sits down with acclaimed writer and director Paul Schrader to discuss his latest film, 'O Canada', an adaptation of Russell Banks' novel Foregone. Schrader, known for his work on seminal films like Taxi Driver and American Gigolo, delves into the intricate narrative and thematic elements of the movie.

Plot Overview and Themes

'O Canada' introduces audiences to Leonard Fife (played by Richard Gere), a celebrated documentary filmmaker facing the twilight of his life after a cancer diagnosis. The film centers on Leonard's decision to participate in a documentary interview by his former students, now accomplished documentarians. This act is portrayed as Leonard's attempt to confront and unveil the truths he has long concealed.

Schrader explains, "What comes out is a mix of confession and confabulation where the reality is not always clear, even when the truth is there." ([01:32])

Dedication to Russell Banks

The film is dedicated to the late novelist Russell Banks, whose work profoundly influenced Schrader. Stewart shares her personal connection to Banks, recounting how she discovered his novel Affliction in a bookstore, which led to a friendship and collaborative efforts in bringing Foregone to the screen. Banks' battle with cancer and his contemplative writings on death deeply resonate within the film's narrative.

Character Exploration: Leonard Fife

Leonard Fife is depicted as a man who has built his life on façades, masking his true self behind the lens of his camera. As Schrader articulates, Leonard "has built his life on a lie. And he is not who he has pretended to be for decades. And now he's coming to the end of that life and the end of that lie, and he wants to expose it." ([05:31])

The character's complexity is further explored through his interactions with his wife, Emma (played by Uma Thurman), who is apprehensive about the documentary, fearing the revelations it may bring. This dynamic adds depth to Leonard's internal struggle between truth and self-deception.

Narrative Technique: Unreliable Narrator and Interrotron

Stewart and Schrader discuss the film's use of an unreliable narrator, highlighting Leonard's confabulations and memory distortions, especially as his illness progresses. This technique blurs the lines between reality and perception, offering a nuanced portrayal of Leonard's psyche.

A notable aspect of the film's production is the utilization of the Interrotron, a device inspired by Errol Morris's interviewing technique. This technology facilitates a more intimate and direct engagement between the interviewer and Leonard, enhancing the authenticity of the confessions.

Leonard explains in the film, "The interviewer is not in the sight line. It's that simple. Right. You position yourself so that the subject can only look directly down the lens. And if you're silent long enough, you're unseen long enough. People will talk." ([13:20])

Casting and Character Development

Richard Gere's reprisal of a character he last embodied in American Gigolo (1980) brings a layered familiarity to Leonard Fife. Schrader remarks on Gere's enduring professionalism, noting, "Pretty much the same. He had picked up a number of mannerisms over the years that I had to kind of knock out of him." ([15:52])

Jacob Elordi plays a younger version of Leonard, adding a generational perspective to the character's development. The casting process, as Stewart shares, involved personal recommendations and the serendipitous selection of Elordi, whose performance bridges Leonard's past and present.

Visual and Structural Elements

Stewart emphasizes the film's visual storytelling, utilizing multiple screen ratios and color schemes to differentiate timelines and emotional states. "Film is more malleable than literature. We can do things with film... I use four different screen ratios. I use three different types of color." ([11:47])

These elements enhance the narrative's complexity, allowing audiences to navigate Leonard's fragmented memories and the blurred boundaries between his reality and fiction.

Insights on Truth and Memory

A central theme in 'O Canada' is the elusive nature of truth. Leonard's assertion, "I can't tell the truth unless the camera's on," reflects his dependency on external validation to confront his innermost truths. However, as Stewart challenges, this reliance becomes a facade that potentially obscures more than it reveals.

The interplay between Leonard's career as a documentary filmmaker and his personal journey underscores the film's exploration of authenticity, memory, and self-deception.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, Schrader and Stewart reflect on the film's release and its place within contemporary cinema. "O Canada will come out in select theaters on December 6th," updates listeners on the film's availability.

Schrader's work in 'O Canada' exemplifies his enduring ability to craft deeply introspective narratives that challenge audiences to question the nature of truth and the stories we tell ourselves.

Notable Quotes:

• Paul Schrader ([01:32]): "What comes out is a mix of confession and confabulation where the reality is not always clear, even when the truth is there."
• Leonard Fife ([13:20]): "The interviewer is not in the sight line. It's that simple. Right. You position yourself so that the subject can only look directly down the lens. And if you're silent long enough, you're unseen long enough. People will talk."

Key Takeaways:

• 'O Canada' is a nuanced exploration of truth, memory, and self-deception, anchored by strong performances and innovative narrative techniques.
• The film serves as a tribute to Russell Banks, infusing personal and literary influences into its storytelling.
• Schrader's collaboration with actors like Richard Gere and Jacob Elordi brings depth and continuity to the character of Leonard Fife.

For listeners interested in contemporary filmmaking, character-driven narratives, and the interplay between personal history and artistic expression, this episode of All Of It offers insightful perspectives directly from one of cinema's notable auteurs.