RUMOURS – Review by Liz Braun

The end of the world is probably nigh, what with climate change and the state of global politics and all.

Luckily, Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin will make you laugh about it.

The big question with his newest feature, Rumours, is whether it’s funnier for a Canadian audience. Certainly, there will be bits appreciated more by those viewing north of the 49th parallel.

In Rumours — Canadian spelling, people — co-directed with Evan and Galen Johnson, Maddin zooms in on G7 leaders at a summit meeting in Germany.

Wonderfully earnest and useless at the same time, these leaders of the world’s greatest democracies have gathered to discuss issues of mutual concern and to draft a provisional statement about some unnamed thing; the theme of this year’s summit is regret, and before a viewer is entirely in on the joke, a few heads of state speak up about their momentous personal regrets in a surreal and unexpectedly silly sequence.

What becomes obvious is that these politicians, for all the important-sounding declarations, are not that bright. The summit gathering feels more like a country club in-group, with personal relationships front and centre — all gossip and personal information, politics be damned.

Cate Blanchett is the German Chancellor, Charles Dance is an elderly, possibly Biden-inspired U.S. President, and Roy Dupuis plays the emotive Canadian Prime Minister; the rest of the G7 are Rolando Ravello as the Italian PM, Nikki Amuka-Bird as the British PM, Denis Menochet as French President and Takehiro Hire as Japan’s PM.

Alicia Vikander and Zlatko Buric both have bizarre cameos in here somewhere. So does a giant human brain found in the forest; please do not pause here waiting for an explanation of that, because there isn’t one. The deeply philosophical French President does speculate that it’s probably a female giant brain, because it seems slightly smaller than a man’s giant brain would be, a prime example of the wonderfully absurd prattle dressed up as important observation that distinguishes the film. And political dialogue.

As the story unfolds, the leaders meet for dinner on the estate where the summit is being held, and soon find themselves alone and in peril. Is it the end of the world? Hard to tell, but the countryside seems overrun by prehistoric zombies from the iron age, most of whom appear to be … masturbating? All very mysterious.

Our G7 leaders wander in the forest, trying to figure out a route of escape. Much subtle mockery is aimed at all the politicians, particularly the British and the American; as this is a Canadian film, the role created for Roy Dupuis does seem to be taking the mickey out of Justin Trudeau, although it should be said the Canadian character is also the closest thing to a hero in this piece. He’s a heartthrob and he’s viewed as over-sensitive by some of his colleagues, but all the ladies love him.

One of the film’s great moments is Cate Blanchett explaining the convoluted and meaningless insurance scandal that may force the Canadian leader to step down — just the sort of thing that will make Canadians howl with laughter while other viewers might just scratch their heads.

Rumours has its share of brilliant moments, not the least of which is the leaders working out whether they’re being manipulated by A.I. and their suggestions for circumventing it. The Canadian leader’s final speech is also inspired, albeit deranged.

Nonetheless, Rumours operates around the specific humor to be found in the general idiocy of these politicians (and the citizenry too), and it peters out fairly quickly. There isn’t enough heft to the story. That aside, it’s a visually interesting undertaking, with an olde timey ‘50s throwback feel to the SciFi zombie parts, and an amusingly exaggerated score to go with that from Kristian Eidnes Andersen.

Finally, inquiring minds want to know: Is Maddin allowed to poke fun like this at a system, in a country, where the arts are government-funded? (Answer: yes)

Sorry! Sorry, as all good Canadians say, but isn’t that biting the hand that feeds you? (Answer: No. Fortunately.)