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| Ordinary Magic | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Giles Walker |
| Written by | Jefferson Lewis |
| Based on | Ganesh by Malcolm Bosse |
| Produced by | Paul Stephens |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Paul Sarossy |
| Edited by | Ralph Brunjes |
| Music by | Mychael Danna |
| Distributed by | Cineplex Odeon Films |
Release date | October 21, 1993 |
Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Ordinary Magic is a Canadian drama film, directed by Giles Walker and released in 1993. [1] The film stars Ryan Reynolds, in his film debut, as a young boy who was raised in India by his father, who experiences culture shock when he must return to Canada following his father's death. [2]
The story is based on the novel Ganesh by Malcolm Bosse, [3] with Canada substituting in the film for the book's Midwestern USA location.
Plot
Jeffrey/Ganesh ( Ryan Reynolds) has been raised with the ideals of social activism as part of his everyday life. His father spends the better part of their lives fighting for social justice in India. After his father dies, fifteen-year-old Jeffrey is sent to live with his aunt Charlotte ( Glenne Headly) in the small town of Paris, Ontario. Through several comedic situations and with considerable effort, he manages to make friends and fit into his new, much smaller world of his. However, when his aunt receives an unfair eviction notice from her sleazy landlord ( Paul Anka), every bit of his background and training comes into play, as he works with her to put on a well-publicized hunger strike, or Satyagraha, which wins the admiration of the local citizens.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Ryan Reynolds | Jeffrey "Ganesh" Moore |
| Glenne Headly | Charlotte Moore Strepski |
| Paul Anka | Joey Dean |
| Cara Pifko | Lucy Smith |
| David Fox | Warren Moore |
| Heath Lamberts | Mayor Walton |
| J. Winston Carroll | Chief Billy Halstead |
| Mark Wilson | Mr. Harris |
| Denawaka Hamine | Vani |
| Henry Jayasena | Priest |
| Keith Dinicol | Mayor’s Sidekick |
| Catherine Fitch | Doctor |
Awards
Jefferson Lewis received a Genie Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 15th Genie Awards in 1994. [4]
References
- ^ Bill Brownstein, "Filming magic on a shoestring; Despite little fanfare, Canadian movies can hold their own". Montreal Gazette, January 15, 1994.
- ^ Christopher Harris, "Film Review: Ordinary Magic". The Globe and Mail, November 8, 1993.
- ^ "GANESH by Malcolm J. Bosse". Kirkus Reviews. April 1, 1981.
- ^ "The 1994 Genie nominees". Playback. November 7, 1994. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
External links
 | This article related to a Canadian film of the 1990s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- Canadian drama films
- English-language Canadian films
- 1993 films
- Films based on American novels
- Films set in India
- 1993 drama films
- Films about human rights
- Films shot in Sri Lanka
- Films directed by Giles Walker
- Films scored by Mychael Danna
- 1990s English-language films
- 1990s Canadian films
- 1990s Canadian film stubs