Canadian Bacon

Canadian Bacon

Author: Aaron Giovannone March 31, 2025 Duration: 29:17
Sweater Weather
TvTV & FilmCultureFilmSocietySociety & Culture

In this episode of Sweater Weather, Aaron starts off by telling some jokes about the Canadian election: Who would fictional Canadian characters vote for? What should you do now that the GST on first homes is gone? Naomi laughs politely. Then we talk about Canadian Bacon, the 1995 film from director Michael Moore, starring John Candy, Rhea Perlman, and Alan Alda, a satire about an American president who declares war on Canada to boost his approval ratings. We liked many of the film's gags poking fun at Canada and Canadian stereotypes, but the real focus of the film is US culture and politics, using Canada as kind of liberal fun house mirror to reflect back to itself a more conservative America. Of course, it's what you'd expect from the famously liberal documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, who only ever made one fictional film, this one. Whether you like the movie or not, the satire turned out to be shockingly prescient, given what's going on in 2025, with a Trump-led trade war against Canada that has inflamed nationalistic sentiment on both sides of the border. Despite all the goofs and gaffs, Aaron found the film oddly disturbing for the dark picture it paints in which everyone is either evil or an idiot, while Naomi didn't seem so put off by that. To be fair, Aaron also napped through the middle third of the film, so he couldn't have been that disturbed. We hope this episode of Sweater Weather doesn't put you to sleep--unless you listen to podcasts in bed while trying to drift off to dreamland. In that case, bon nuit, and enjoy!

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There's a particular warmth to the conversations on Sweater Weather, hosted by Canadian writers Aaron Giovannone and Naomi K. Lewis. Think of it as the audio equivalent of a long, thoughtful chat on a comfortable couch, where the topic just happens to be the shows, films, and books that shape a national identity. This husband-and-wife duo moves beyond simple reviews, weaving personal reflection with cultural analysis to explore both the iconic and the overlooked in Canadian storytelling. Their discussions are smart and often very funny, finding the cozy heart in everything from beloved CBC classics to under-the-radar indie films and literary gems. Listening feels like being included in a great conversation between two people who genuinely love this stuff, dissecting what makes Canadian pop culture distinct without taking it all too seriously. Whether you have a deep nostalgia for CanCon or are just curious about the stories from north of the 49th parallel, this podcast offers a welcoming, insightful space to reconsider what we watch and read. You'll find yourself noticing new layers in familiar favorites and discovering hidden treasures, all through the lens of two writers who know how to talk about art with both expertise and affection. It’s that specific blend of casual and clever that makes Sweater Weather such a consistent listen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 61

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