The Rise of a Maple Syrup Auteur

From Found Footage to the Founder of Blackberry

Abstract

Forging a national identity for Canadian cinema is challenged by the enduring stereotype that it lacks one altogether. America’s overbearing cultural influences make it a struggle for a distinct Canadian cinematic voice to emerge. Early Canadian cinema responded to this hegemony with a realism and documentary motif – an approach championed by John Grierson during his tenure with the National Film Board. He aimed to steer away from Hollywood’s narrative-driven commercial style. Canadian cinema is consequently defined in relation to its American counterpart – either mimicking it, often awkwardly, or rejecting it outright. Toronto-born actor and filmmaker Matt Johnson deftly straddles the divide, blending Canada’s documentary tradition with American popular culture while injecting his signature style and irreverent humour. His mockumentary approach to lampooning American media tropes produces a product with an unmistakably Canadian flavour. This paper proposes Johnson’s filmography as a synecdoche of Canadian cinema, bridging its historical foundations and emerging identity. His three feature films – The Dirties (2013), Operation Avalanche (2016) and Blackberry (2023) – along with his sitcom Nirvanna the Band the Show (2017-2018), will be viewed through the dual lens of Canada’s cinematic past and charting a future distinct identity.