Ottawa

Starring Ralph Fiennes as the Liberal Party of Canada

“This film is not for everyone. But for those interested in the questions it poses and in a cumulative, but ultimately powerful use of film as a medium to touch the mind as well as the heart, it is well worth the trip.”
Nina Darnton, New York Times  

“A movie for grownups. For men and women. For anyone who feels and thinks. For anyone who has tried to love. For anyone who has survived the 20th Century.”
Jerry Tallmer, New York Post

“A small, polished gem about large, ragged subjects: psychoanalysis, history, passion, despair, comfort.”
Jan Hoffman, Village Voice

 The above quotes are selections from a new book I’m working on, tentatively titled, Quotes From Reviews Of Movies Co-written By Michael Ignatieff That Might Be Used Ironically In Future Profiles Of Him Depending On How His Political Career Plays Out.

Possibly little known fact: the new Liberal leader has two feature film screenplay credits to his name—1919 (starring a young Colin Firth) and Onegin (starring Ralph Fiennes and Liv Tyler). Granted, it’s not quite as fascinating as claiming to have an unfinished book about something to do with the history of hockey, but it is, er, something.

The first is a bit difficult to find at your local Blockbuster (though surely there’s a Colin Firth fan out there with a VHS bootleg they’d be willing to lend us), but various clips from Onegin have been posted on YouTube. After the jump, the epic final moments of that film. Not to be watched without easy access to Kleenex.

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