Canadian Cinema Excellence in Matt and Mara

Canada, specifically Vancouver and Toronto, are widely known to those in the industry as ‘Hollywood North.’ We provide ground to some of the largest film and television productions in North America, and yet, our major cities never get to play themselves. Even though our country is ripe with talented artists, how often do we see a Canadian filmmaker make it to the big leagues? Sure, we can take credit for James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar) and Denis Villeneuve (Dune, Arrival) but they assimilated into Hollywood so quickly that they're hardly ever associated with their native land anymore.

Even growing up in Canada, besides a couple of local television programs, all the media we consumed was American. I was never exposed to or particularly intrigued by ‘Canadian cinema.’ Those two words alone carry a connotation of being small-time, low-budget, independent, and frankly, unable to break into the zeitgeist. Once I became a film buff and started working in the industry, I slowly immersed myself in Canadian content and discovered a couple of voices I could resonate with. Matt Johnson was the first writer/actor/director from the True North that I truly latched on to. His first project, web series Nirvanna the Band the Show, got me hooked, but his debut feature film The Dirties turned me into a life-long fan. Since then I have, and will continue to, watch everything he puts his hands on. Not only is he a unique and brilliant new voice, he proudly represents Canada and its ‘culture’ in all of his projects. Most recently that includes the 2023 film Blackberry—which Johnson wrote, directed and acted in—and the reason for this entire spiel, Matt and Mara.

At long last, my aversion to fully enjoying Canadian cinema has been cured. Toronto-based writer/director Kazik Radwanski makes filmmaking look easy in his fourth feature film Matt and Mara. Sometimes, something as uncomplicated as watching two old college friends catch up and redefine their connection can be as powerful and captivating as any blockbuster epic. Downtown Toronto acts as the Paris, Matt Johnson as the Ethan Hawke, and Deragh Campbell as the Julie Delpy in this Canadiana spin on Before Sunset.

A simple, charming, and quick (80 minutes, the perfect runtime) watch that captures the all-too-relatable feelings of confusion, frustration, and intrigue of when an old flame shows back up and disrupts your routine. The chemistry between the two leads is refined and sticky. Johnson is charisma personified, and Campbell demands your attention—especially in those plentiful extreme close-ups. She does for turtlenecks what Clueless did for tartan. Even in the most tense moments, the ambiance of their world feels inviting and safe, warm but uncomfortable like a Toronto summer. Matt and Mara grazes the mumblecore genre and narrowly avoids pretension—a big accomplishment in itself, due to Radwanski's dedicated eye for naturalism.

My only gripe about this refreshing and undeniably Canadian film is more of a warning than a critique; Matt and Mara gives off the dangerous, potentially harmful, impression that men in Toronto are capable of being both hot AND smart.