Elijah (film)

*Elijah*
Elijah
Genre	Drama
Written by	Blake Corbet
Directed by	Paul Unwin
Starring	Billy Merasty; Tina Louise Bomberry; Currie Graham; Glen Gould; Maury Chaykin
Theme music composer	Terry Frewer
Country of origin	Canada
Original language	English
Production
Producers	Blake Corbet; Gigi Boyd; Kevin Eastwood; Chris Leeson; Lisa Meeches
Cinematography	Michael Marshall
Editors	Franco Pante; Lenka Svab
Running time	90 minutes
Production companies	Anagram Pictures; Eagle Vision
Original release
Network	CTV
Release	September 30, 2007

Elijah is a Canadian comedy-drama television film which was directed by Paul Unwin and broadcast by CTV in 2008.^[1] An account of the life and career of Elijah Harper, the provincial MLA in Manitoba whose stand on First Nations rights brought down the Meech Lake Accord in 1990, the film blends animated and scripted segments to present Harper's political journey as a Swift-style satire reminiscent of Gulliver's Travels.^[2]

The film stars Billy Merasty as Harper, Tina Louise Bomberry as his wife Elizabeth, Currie Graham as Gary Filmon, Glen Gould as Phil Fontaine, and Maury Chaykin as Howard Pawley, as well as Michael Peterson as Harper in childhood, Gregory Dominic Odjug as Harper in his teenage years, and Lorne Cardinal, Morris Birdyellowhead and Gary Farmer in supporting roles.

Production

The film went into production in summer 2006,^[3] with some shooting in the real Legislative Assembly of Manitoba building.^[4]

Distribution

The film premiered theatrically at the 2007 Calgary International Film Festival,^[5] and was screened at the Vancouver International Film Festival^[6] and the ImagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival,^[7] prior to being broadcast by CTV on May 25, 2008.^[1]

Critical response

John Doyle of The Globe and Mail wrote that "the movie's jaunty tone doesn't always click - it sags into sentimentality in the middle - but it's often gloriously funny and smart. The scenes in which Mulroney's posse tries to shift Harper's position are hilarious. Maury Chaykin is excellent as former Manitoba premier Howard Pawley and Glen Gould does a ferocious turn as native leader Phil Fontaine. Written by Blake Corbet and directed by Paul Unwin, Elijah is one wonderful attempt to make the Meech mess a scorching comedy, but anchored by one truly principled man."^[1]

Awards


Award	Date of Ceremony	Category	Nominees	Result	Reference
Leo Awards	2008	Best Feature Length Drama	Blake Corbet, Mary Anne Waterhouse, Gigi Boyd, Ki Wight, Kevin Eastwood	Won	^[8]
		Best Screenwriting in a Feature Length Drama	Blake Corbet	Won	^[8]
		Best Production Design in a Feature Length Drama	Tony Devenyi	Nominated	^[9]
		Best Musical Score in a Feature Length Drama	Terry Frewer	Won
		Best Picture Editing in a Feature Length Drama	Franco Pante, Lenka Svab	Nominated	^[9]
		Best Overall Sound in a Feature Length Drama	Greg Stewart, Ian Emberton, Scott Aitken, Ken Biehl	Nominated
		Best Sound Editing in a Feature Length Drama	Ken Biehl, Ian Emberton, Stephen Cheung, Don Harrison, Ian Mackie	Nominated
		Best Visual Effects in a Feature Length Drama	James Tichenor, Terry Hutcheson, Mark T. Reid, Michael Ranalletta, Andria Spring, Dave McGhie	Nominated
Gemini Awards	2009	Best Television Movie	Blake Corbet, Gigi Boyd, Kevin Eastwood, Chris Leeson, Lisa Meeches, Mary Anne Waterhouse	Won	^[10]
		Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series	Blake Corbet	Won	^[10]
		Best Sound in a Dramatic Program	Ken Biehl, Scott Aitken, Stephen Cheung, Ian Emberton, Don Harrison, Ian Mackie, Greg Stewart	Nominated	^[11]
		Best Original Music for a Dramatic Program, Mini-Series or TV Movie	Terry Frewer	Nominated	^[11]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c John Doyle, "In politics, truth is stranger than fiction". The Globe and Mail, May 23, 2008.
^ Glen Schaefer, "Native MLA brought gov't down". The Province, May 23, 2008.
^ "Elijah in Elijah". Hamilton Spectator, August 30, 2006.
^ Brad Oswald, "'No' way, 'no' how". Winnipeg Free Press, May 25, 2008.
^ "Going Out. Sept 21-27". Calgary Herald, September 21, 2007.
^ Katherine Monk, "Elijah -- man who nixed Meech -- more like movie of the week". Vancouver Sun, October 8, 2007.
^ Rick Salutin, "When to use a feather". The Globe and Mail, October 19, 2007.
^ Yvonne Zacharias, "Films about politician, car crash win Leos". Vancouver Sun, May 26, 2008.
^ ^a ^b Alison Cunningham, "Normal, Brightlight lead pack at 10th Leos". Playback, May 12, 2008.
^ "Geminis come home". The Province, October 22, 2009.
^ "Gemini Nominees: Craft Categores". Playback, October 12, 2009.

External links

Elijah at IMDb

[doyle-1] John Doyle, "In politics, truth is stranger than fiction". The Globe and Mail, May 23, 2008.

[2] Glen Schaefer, "Native MLA brought gov't down". The Province, May 23, 2008.

[3] "Elijah in Elijah". Hamilton Spectator, August 30, 2006.

[4] Brad Oswald, "'No' way, 'no' how". Winnipeg Free Press, May 25, 2008.

[5] "Going Out. Sept 21-27". Calgary Herald, September 21, 2007.

[6] Katherine Monk, "Elijah -- man who nixed Meech -- more like movie of the week". Vancouver Sun, October 8, 2007.

[7] Rick Salutin, "When to use a feather". The Globe and Mail, October 19, 2007.

[8] Yvonne Zacharias, "Films about politician, car crash win Leos". Vancouver Sun, May 26, 2008.

[leonoms-9] Alison Cunningham, "Normal, Brightlight lead pack at 10th Leos". Playback, May 12, 2008.

[10] "Geminis come home". The Province, October 22, 2009.

[11] "Gemini Nominees: Craft Categores". Playback, October 12, 2009.

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