Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney

Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney is an inventive archival documentary that re-examines one of Canada’s most influential political figures through a kaleidoscope of more than 80,000 pieces of archival footage. Tracing Brian Mulroney’s rise to power between 1976 and 1984, director Matthew Rankin challenges both how media shapes public opinion, and how documentaries construct historical narratives.

A film that is as much about the language of cinema as it is about Canadian politics, Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney radically transforms decades of news broadcasts, political advertising, and media appearances into a vibrant audiovisual collage that dissects the construction of public image — and political power. Using satire, irony, and experimental found-footage techniques, the film invites audiences to reconsider not only Brian Mulroney’s legacy, but to consider how all legacies are constructed and maintained. Bold and inventive, Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney offers a compelling look at the role historical archives play in our understanding of the past.

Go beyond the screening with an extended Ignite experience. Following Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney, students will take part in an extended program of conversation and hands-on learning that explores how media shapes our understanding of politics, history, and the world around us.

In a post-screening discussion with filmmakers and subject experts — and an optional interactive workshop — students will examine how archival images are selected, edited, reframed, and given new meaning. These insights will help students develop practical tools for questioning the media they encounter every day.

This is an extention of the regular Ignite screenings. Please try to plan for your class to participate in the full experience, including the screening, discussion, and workshop, or let us know if you can only make it to part of it!

The film screening will begin at 10:30 am at the VIFF Centre, with a 45-min talk-back to follow. Then, after a 1-hour break (for lunch, or to stretch your legs), there will be an option to participate in a workshop, hosted in our Education Suite (2F) at VIFF Center. If you plan on attending both the screening with talk-back, and the workshop, please plan your time and transportation accordingly.

Content Considerations: Contains sequences of rapidly flashing images and strobe-like effects created through the editing and manipulation of archival footage. May affect viewers with photosensitivity. If you have any questions about this film and its content, please contact us anytime at [email protected].