Famous Canadian Authors (Ages 12-14)
Canada’s literary scene boasts such well-known names as Margaret Atwood, Mordecai Richler, and Leonard Cohen. This playlist delves into this rich aspect of Canadian history and culture, introducing these legends to a new generation of students. Pour visionner cette sélection en français, cliquez ici.
Canada’s literary scene boasts such well-known names as Margaret Atwood, Mordecai Richler, and Leonard Cohen. This playlist delves into this rich aspect of Canadian history and culture, introducing these legends to a new generation of students.
Pour visionner cette sélection en français, cliquez ici.
Sélection
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Margaret Atwood: Once in AugustMichael Rubbo 1984 57 minIn Margaret Atwood: Once in August, filmmaker Michael Rubbo attempts to discover what shapes the celebrated writer's fiction and what motivates her characters. As one of Canada's most distinguished poets and novelists, Atwood is also one of this country's most elusive literary figures.
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Ladies and Gentlemen... Mr. Leonard CohenDonald Brittain et Don Owen 1965 44 min
This informal black-and-white portrait of Leonard Cohen shows him at age 30 on a visit to his hometown of Montreal, where the poet, novelist and songwriter comes "to renew his neurotic affiliations." He reads his poetry to an enthusiastic crowd, strolls the streets of the city, relaxes in this three-dollar-a-night hotel room and even takes a bath.
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Mordecai Richler: The Writer and His Roots1983 57 min
This feature documentary explores Mordecai Richler's cultural and geographic roots as well as his personal reasons for writing. The film includes excerpts from several of his books and movies as well as readings by the author.
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Jack Kerouac's Road - A Franco-American OdysseyHerménégilde Chiasson 1989 54 min
Part documentary, part drama, this film presents the life and work of Jack Kerouac, an American writer with Québec roots who became one of the most important spokesmen for his generation. Intercut with archival footage, photographs and interviews, this film takes apart the heroic myth and even returns to the childhood of the author whose life and work contributed greatly to the cultural, sexual and social revolution of the 1960s.
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A Writer in the Nuclear Age: A Conversation with Margaret LaurenceTerre Nash 1985 9 min
In this short film, internationally acclaimed author Margaret Laurence passionately addresses several issues related to peace: the social responsibility of the writer; language usage and reality; jargon and "newspeak"; imagination, meaning and understanding; the nuclear threat; world leadership; the role of empathy in communication; the distinctions between fiction and didactic writing; and the power of "ordinary" people to influence events. The film's scope makes this an excellent discussion starter in diverse subject areas.
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Ten Million Books: An Introduction to Farley MowatAndy Thomson 1981 25 min
Farley Mowat has sold more books than any other Canadian writer – 10 million copies in 22 languages in 50 countries. In this short film, Mowat recalls some of his experiences that have found their way into his work.
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Still Waters: The Poetry of P.K. PageDonald Winkler 1990 38 min
This short film encapsulates the life of P.K. Page, a Canadian woman who has reached international stature as both a painter and a poet. Through an exploration of her life and art, the film shows how her powerful works have extended beyond their inherent confines into the realms of anthropology and ecology.
