Some actual Indie/Obscure films...

[Peace_355]

Yay!
Definitely Let the Right One In (especially after reading the book)
and someone mentioned Waitress, which Nathan Fillion made for me
So, my list would be:

LtROI
Mysterious Skin
His Secret Life
C.R.A.Z.Y
Beautiful Boxer
Drifting Lillies
Mambo Italiano
Monty Python's Life of Brian (it was indie. seriously. no one had the balls to make it!)

[...Aurora Dream...]

I never know how to react when I see a Canadian film in the "Foreign Films Section" of a video store (note: these are Canadian stores).

Probably my favourite one has to be Bon Cop, Bad Cop. Having grown up in Ontario, close to the Quebec border, this film hits home with me as a total Canadian classic. Half of it's in French (which I am fluent in), half of it's in English, Quebec and Ontario cops are at each other's throats in a humourous manner, hockey is a main theme... how awesomely Canadian is that? Heh, though, having lived on the West Coast for a while, I also realize how not Canadian it can be too. Speaking French with my roommate is like using a secret language around here - no one understands what we're saying. It makes great for private conversations! We'd never be able to do the same thing back East, 'cause everyone would understand us.

Eh, I could list a bunch of other Canadian films I've seen, but I'd totally be cheating: I took a course in Canadian cinema a few years ago (though, Bad Cop, Bon Cop was not a film I saw during that course - it was something I decided to watch on my own after seeing some ads for it while I was in Montreal on a trip. I ended up seeing it in theaters in Vancouver, with subtitles on the French half, and while I enjoyed it, I was disappointed with the turnout since there were not a lot of people in the theater at all... but I suppose that's somewhat expected. At least Quebec has a market. English Canadian films get the shaft or some support from the National Film Board... but overall, not much viewership).

On a random side note, I think it's stupid to dub something that is French into French. Well, more specifically, French films from France are dubbed into Quebecois French when they come to Canada. This is law. And it seems kind of pointless to me. Though I do understand how precious preserving language is... but seriously? I wouldn't mind watching Amelie sometime with the actual actors' voices.

[whateverfloats]

...Aurora Dream...

I never know how to react when I see a Canadian film in the "Foreign Films Section" of a video store (note: these are Canadian stores).

Probably my favourite one has to be Bon Cop, Bad Cop. Having grown up in Ontario, close to the Quebec border, this film hits home with me as a total Canadian classic. Half of it's in French (which I am fluent in), half of it's in English, Quebec and Ontario cops are at each other's throats in a humourous manner, hockey is a main theme... how awesomely Canadian is that? Heh, though, having lived on the West Coast for a while, I also realize how not Canadian it can be too. Speaking French with my roommate is like using a secret language around here - no one understands what we're saying. It makes great for private conversations! We'd never be able to do the same thing back East, 'cause everyone would understand us.

Eh, I could list a bunch of other Canadian films I've seen, but I'd totally be cheating: I took a course in Canadian cinema a few years ago (though, Bad Cop, Bon Cop was not a film I saw during that course - it was something I decided to watch on my own after seeing some ads for it while I was in Montreal on a trip. I ended up seeing it in theaters in Vancouver, with subtitles on the French half, and while I enjoyed it, I was disappointed with the turnout since there were not a lot of people in the theater at all... but I suppose that's somewhat expected. At least Quebec has a market. English Canadian films get the shaft or some support from the National Film Board... but overall, not much viewership).

On a random side note, I think it's stupid to dub something that is French into French. Well, more specifically, French films from France are dubbed into Quebecois French when they come to Canada. This is law. And it seems kind of pointless to me. Though I do understand how precious preserving language is... but seriously? I wouldn't mind watching Amelie sometime with the actual actors' voices.

Bon Cop Bad Cop isn't bad but yeah, obviously it's going to be more popular in Quebec. Have you seen Margaret's Museum or New Waterford Girl? They are my favourite Canadian films, although they definitely fit the stereotype. lol Desolate Nova Scotian landscapes, poverty, alienation. No hockey I'm afraid.

[...Aurora Dream...]

whateverfloats

Bon Cop Bad Cop isn't bad but yeah, obviously it's going to be more popular in Quebec. Have you seen Margaret's Museum or New Waterford Girl? They are my favourite Canadian films, although they definitely fit the stereotype. lol Desolate Nova Scotian landscapes, poverty, alienation. No hockey I'm afraid.

I've seen Margaret's Museum. Actually, I read the play it was based on first in my Canadian lit. course (the play is called Glace Bay Miner's Museum). Hmm, though in retrospect, I think both the play and the movie were based on a short story. And I know a novel was also made out of it. I saw the movie as an extra to my Canadian lit. course (a few classmates and my prof and I made an afternoon of it outside of class), and then a year later I saw it again in my Canadian cinema course. I liked the cinematography in the movie, but I liked the way that the plot worked out in the play better than in the film (I think it was a bit more shocking in the play).

I haven't seen New Waterford Girl. Heh, yeah, the Maritime landscapes are distinctive in film, aren't they? Thinking about how vastly different Canada is from location to location just reminded me of a couple of other Canadian films that I like (I'm pretty sure I watched them as extras to the Canadian cinema course for writing an essay... but it may have been when my sister took the course and I decided to join in and watch with her... I don't remember). The Snow Walker was filmed in the North-West Territories and it's very beautifully shot and well-told. It's based on a short story that's set in the '50's when a pilot crashes in the middle of nowhere with a sick Aboriginal woman on board. The two begin a journey across the harsh wilderness to find civilization, and begin to learn about and accept each other along the way. And the other film I just remembered, for a complete change of scenery, is called Waydowntown. It's a comedy that's set in Calgary, where four office workers make a bet to see who can stay inside the longest, using the downtown core's system of tunnels and overpasses that connect many of the buildings together. I enjoyed both films.

[whateverfloats]

I might have to seek those out then. For the most part I'm not thrilled with Canadian movies. They tend to be either dull like Atanarjuat the Fast Runner (I tried I really tried) or ridiculously silly like Men with Brooms.

[jakehurley234]

TinkaWillow

So...I've noticed some upset over the fact that there is little talk of actual Indie/Obscure films....here are a few of my favs...let me know what you think. Feel free to talk about one in particular or make a list of your own:

A few of my recent favorites are:
Secretary**
Henry Poole is Here
Teeth
Birds of America
The Wackness
Pizza
Let the Right One In**
He Was a Quiet Man

I only saw that one. Josh Peck really grew up didn't he. anyway, My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE Indie movie is Wristcutter's; a Love story. ever see it?

[Racer Sexx]

let the right one in was a really good movie, i think it's really shitty that it's going to be re-made and probably ruined by america.

one of my favourite movies, that i rarely hear anyone ever talk about though is welcome to the dollhouse, it's sequel of sorts palindromes wasn't as good but worth watching.

[whateverfloats]

Racer Sexx

let the right one in was a really good movie, i think it's really shitty that it's going to be re-made and probably ruined by america.

one of my favourite movies, that i rarely hear anyone ever talk about though is welcome to the dollhouse, it's sequel of sorts palindromes wasn't as good but worth watching.

Welcome to the Dollhouse is the most disturbing 'comedy' I've ever seen. It was fascinating but far from funny.

[Zezus Starchrist]

If anyone says Garden State, Imma scream.
That being said...
Brick.

[Myst Xtreme]

My independent and obscure experience is pretty limited.

There are only 2 or 3 movies on here that I've seen, so I'm going to check out some of the rest that were mentioned on here.

Currently, my favorite independent movie is Contour.

[Phaelyn]

Pwale

I know 28 Days Later became Hollywood mainstream-but it was originally a British indie zombie flick. Isn't it amazing what they did on an independent budget? They must have had to get up so early to get those empty city shots. whee

Those shots were filmed between 4-5am. They were allowed to stop the small amounts of traffic for an hour only, in the early hours of the morning.

My favourite obscure/independent films are -

28 Days Later
Dog Soldiers (Independent British Werewolf black comedy)
Closetland (an adaptation of a play. It's filmed almost completely as it probably would look on stage and has only two people in it - Alan Rickman and Madelaine Stowe. I highly recommend it!)

[CommieDonkey]

anyone seen the film stalker
plot premise: man wants to see hut in dangerous woods, other man leads him there, gets there decides doesnt want to go in hut anymore, goes home
greaat film

[candypants_x]

Mysterious Skin heart

[anhimmeln]

A few of my favorites:

Step Into Liquid :: great soundtrack, great surf shots
The Foreign Duck, Native Duck, and God
8 1/2 :: remade into 9 this year

[whateverfloats]

jakehurley234

TinkaWillow

So...I've noticed some upset over the fact that there is little talk of actual Indie/Obscure films....here are a few of my favs...let me know what you think. Feel free to talk about one in particular or make a list of your own:

A few of my recent favorites are:
Secretary**
Henry Poole is Here
Teeth
Birds of America
The Wackness
Pizza
Let the Right One In**
He Was a Quiet Man

I only saw that one. Josh Peck really grew up didn't he. anyway, My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE Indie movie is Wristcutter's; a Love story. ever see it?

I finally got around to seeing The Wackness. It reminded me of Igby Goes Down and honestly, of the two I prefer Igby.