Meet the Makers: Guy Maddin

Maddin is one of the most original and creative indie directors working today. It is true that his films often weigh heavily on the side of the depressing, and many are so unique that the general viewing audiences aren’t likely to get or appreciate his films, but he’s an appreciated favorite of many film buffs like myself for doing his own thing without any apologies. Maddin’s newest film is the docu-fantasy My Winnepeg, which made its US festival debut in April 2008. Unfortunately, It may be some time before we in the Midwest get a glimpse. Featured here is a small taste of what this Canadian filmmaker has to offer movie geeks with a more adventurous cinematic palate …

[Guy Maddin (born February 28, 1956) is a Canadian screenwriter and director of both features and short films from Winnipeg, Manitoba. While Maddin strives to recreate the styles and moods of early film melodramas, Weimar Republic German silent films, and 1920s Soviet agit-prop, his own distinct personal style lies in his use of clichà ©s, psychosexual situations, bizarre stories and humor. It is this self-conscious and surreal merging of early film-making techniques with a post-modern sensibility that give Maddin’s films their distinct style. His film education came not with any formal training at a trade school, but with endless weekends of watching films with close friends John Paizs and Steve Snyder. Soon realizing that Paizs was making films and Snyder was teaching production at the University of Manitoba, Maddin eventually decided that he needed to put his own knowledge to work and step behind the camera.] — Wikipedia

Tales From the Gimli Hospital (1988) — This black and white picture begins with two children visiting their mother in the Gimli hospital, whereas their grandmother tells them a story of the hospital set many many ago. From here, the movie takes place in the long-ago Gimli and tells of two men (Einar and Gunnar) admitted to the hospital, each of them vying for the affection of the nurses. The two men have become friends, but as their rivalry over the nurse’s attention becomes more heated their friendship begins to fall apart, ultimately leading to tragedy. The film stars Kyle McCulloch, Michael Gottli and Angela Heck.

Careful (1992) — This is one of those films I mentioned that will likely only find appreciation from those with open minds for artistic storytelling. Set in the village of Tolzbad, situated in the Alpines, the story takes place at the turn of the century. The town’s people live in fear of destructive avalanches, forcing them to live quiet, uneventful lives. The film focuses on two relationships, a boy and his mother and a man and his daughter, both of which take on an eerie Oedipus-like quality. The film is shot with the intention of replicating the audio-visual qualities of early German cinema. The film stars Kyle McCulloch, Brent Neale, Sarah Neville, Paul Cox, Victor Cowie and Gosia Dobrowolska.

Twilight of the Ice Nymphs (1997) — Even though I really enjoyed this film, I will admit it’s not one of his “best” … in fact, its quite different from his usual fare. Twilight is a dark fantasy, but is beautifully photographed in dream-like colors. The story follows Peter, a former prisoner, who returns home to Mandragora, a mythical land where the sun never sets. On his journey home, he meets Julianna, a mysterious woman and falls in love. When he gets home to the family farm he finds his sister Amelia, Julianna and a local widow all under the influence of Dr. Solti, who is obsessed with a statue of Venus that holds magical powers. The film stars Shelley Duvall, Pascale Bussieres, Frank Groshin, Ross McMillan, Alice Krige and R.H. Thomson.

The Saddest Music in the World (2003) — Once again shot in Maddin’s trademark style, mimicking cinema of the 20’s and 30’s, this part-musical melodrama tells the tale of a legless baroness who announces a competition for the saddest song in the world. Set during the Great Depression and on the brink of prohibition, she hopes this will spur increased sales of her brewery’s beer. Musicians from around the world attend to compete, but the story quickly turns in the direction of a bitter rivalry within one family, involving a multi-faceted tangle of intimate relationships and affairs. The films stars Isabella Rossellini, Mark McKinney, Maria de Medeiros, David Fox and Ross McMillan.