MovieChat Forums > Absolution (2006) Discussion > New York? Ohio? Argh!!

New York? Ohio? Argh!!

posted 17 years ago by CathyE
3 replies | jump to latest

If you're making a Canadian movie, and you film it in Canada, and you fund it with Canadian money, and you cast it with several Canadian actors....would it kill you to set it in friggin' Canada? Especially when it doesn't affect the plot whatsoever?

Why couldn't New York have been Toronto? Why couldn't Ohio have been the praries? Or any of the dozens of rural farming towns in southern Ontario?

I guess it's easier to get it on an American station like Lifetime if it's set in the states. Which sucks.

“I always tell the truth…even when I lie” - Scarface

[–] MystMoonstruck 16 years ago

I'm not sure what you are freaking out about. How often do viewers actually pay attention to how well settings in the story match where they are filmed? Generally, those who do fuss are the "nitpicky" ones who take time to read markings on telephones or look at license plates. So, whether it's Hollywood or Hollywood North, we are accustomed to seeing all parts of the world played out nowhere near where they are. It doesn't matter if it's a Canadian setting or a U.S. one. What counts is the story.

I'm watching it right now, and I have to admit that I wasn't even aware that it's supposed to be Ohio. I suppose it might have been mentioned in passing one or two times, but I would have to take your word for this taking place in Ohio. It could as easily be Illinois, Indiana, Missouri or somewhere in Canada. Having traveled a lot, I can say that a lot of it looks an awful lot alike!

Why be upset about it? I don't understand that at all. I focus on the story and might fuss if it's a desert setting and someone says that it's in the Applachian Mountains. That would be reason for getting upset. But, movies and TV series often are filmed everywhere but where they're supposed to be set.

We're used to Canada being the United States in a lot of films. I wouldn't be peeved about Toronto standing in for New York City or any other major city. I doubt that Lifetime cares about this either because I can recall dozens of films where Canadian settings were stressed. It's really no big deal, is it? For example: Should we fuss because classic Westerns were filmed in Italy, not where the stories are set?

~~MystMoonstruck~~

"No matter where you go, there you are."~~Buckaroo Banzai (Peter Weller) in "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension"

[–] CathyE 16 years ago

Hey cynsemele,

I see what you're saying, and I actually didn't mean to give the impression that I hated the movie or something just because it was set in the states, I'm just saying, it would have been nice to set it in Canada, as this is clearly a Canadian film, and, as I said, there was no reason plot wise why they couldn't.

My point is that is sucks that they felt they needed to make it a US location, (presumably to appeal to an American audience). You'll never see a similar sort of American film decide to be set in Toronto, just for the heck of it, because they don't need to do that.

I love that Sarah Polley recently made the conscience decision to set Away From Her in Canada, which is a Canadian film, that she filmed here, with Canadian money. I love that Atom Egoyan set The Sweet Hereafter and Exotica in Canada, both Canadian films.

It's nice to see Canada represented on film, especially by Canadian film makers.

Cheers.

“I always tell the truth…even when I lie” - Scarface

[–] ldddhunter 11 years ago

i've never been to canada, but it is a place i would like to go to one day; my niece has visited and she loved it; my husband has also traveled their while on leave from the marines (this was before we got married); he also said he loved it as well. i refuse to watch the movie "Argo" bc they gave no thanks to the canadians who were the ones who helped these men in real life - shame on Ben Affleck for disreguarding them - i understand that the canadians are also upset w/the movie bc they were not acknowleged by Affleck & the ppl who were in the movie(but that blame lays on Affleck since he directed, produced and acted in the movie)... Again, Canada, Australia and Ireland (which are one of my family roots on my side, I have other Ethnicities as well; my marriage name is Manchester; my husband's roots are from England, but he has other Ethnicity as well) These are the 3 places I want to visit one day when I'm able to; I'm on disability bc of many medical probs (i won't get into) but hopefully I will get my wish and visit. sorry for the ramble - but i agree w/the OP's post as well. sorry i added my stuff about Ben Affleck, but its the truth and since we were talking about Canada -thought i would add this tid-bit about just how pissed the Canadians are about "Argo" and not being thanked.