The Saddest Music in the World (2003)

Director:

Guy Maddin

Writers:

Kazuo Ishiguro (original screenplay)
George Toles (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

12 May 2005 (Portugal)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical

Tagline:

"If you're sad, and like beer, I'm your lady."

Plot:

A sort-of musical set in Winnipeg during the Great Depression, where a beer baroness organizes a contest to find the saddest music in the world. Musicians from around the world descend on the city to try and win first place - a $25,000 prize.

Plot Keywords:

Contest | Beer | Baroness | Prize | Great Depression

Awards:

6 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Mark McKinney	...	Chester Kent
Isabella Rossellini	...	Lady Helen Port-Huntley
Maria de Medeiros	...	Narcissa
David Fox	...	Fyodor Kent
Ross McMillan	...	Roderick Kent / Gravillo the Great
Louis Negin	...	Blind Seer
Darcy Fehr	...	Teddy
Claude Dorge	...	Duncan Elksworth
Talia Pura	...	Mary
Jeff Sutton	...	Young Chester
Graeme Valentin	...	Young Roderick
Maggie Nagle	...	Chester's Mother
Victor Cowie	...	Man in Bar
Jessica Burleson	...	Lady's Secretary
Wayne Nicklas	...	Boardmember
Nancy Drake	...	American Mother
David Gillies	...	American Father
Daphne Korol	...	Widow
Adriana O'Neil	...	Agnes
Jeff Skinner	...	Reverend
Craig Aftanas	...	Old Sleepwalker
Miles Boisselle	...	Guard (as Miles Boiselle)
Brock MacGregor	...	Roderick's Son
Daniel Hawkins	...	Amputee Double
Emile Bisseck	...	Africa - Zani Drummer
Marol Jal	...	Africa - Zani Drummer
Binasio Wani	...	Africa - Zani Drummer
Joshua Stanton	...	India - Manochar - Sitar
Sharmela Parboji	...	India - Manochar
Alan Parboji	...	India - Manochar
Nalini Reddy	...	India - Manochar
Veena Goel	...	India - Manochar
Aasttha Khajuria	...	India - Manochar
Mohyna Dookun	...	India - Manochar
Lena Shah	...	India - Manochar
Shyamala Dakshinamurti	...	India - Manochar
Usha Sharma	...	India - Manochar
Sunayana Gupta	...	India - Manochar
Jesus Paz Sr.	...	Mexico - Mini Mariachi
Jesus Paz Jr.	...	Mexico - Mini Mariachi
Isaac Paz	...	Mexico - Mini Mariachi
David Paz	...	Mexico - Mini Mariachi
Johanna Paz	...	Mexico - Mini Mariachi
Richard Escaffi	...	Mexico - Mini Mariachi
Daron Baxter	...	Scotland - Winnipeg - Heather-Belle Ladies Pipe Band
Crystal Hay	...	Scotland - Winnipeg - Heather-Belle Ladies Pipe Band
Gail Hay	...	Scotland - Winnipeg - Heather-Belle Ladies Pipe Band
Gwen Court	...	Scotland - Winnipeg - Heather-Belle Ladies Pipe Band
Sara Leclair	...	Scotland - Winnipeg - Heather-Belle Ladies Pipe Band
Diane Leclair	...	Scotland - Winnipeg - Heather-Belle Ladies Pipe Band
Shona Munroe	...	Scotland - Winnipeg - Heather-Belle Ladies Pipe Band
Catherine Russell	...	Heather-Belle Ladies Pipe Band
Shannon Baxter	...	Scotland - Winnipeg - Heather-Belle Ladies Pipe Band
Jessica Locke	...	Scotland - Winnipeg - Heather-Belle Ladies Pipe Band
Corie Johnston	...	Scotland - Winnipeg - Heather-Belle Ladies Pipe Band
Shawna Turner	...	Scotland - Winnipeg - Heather-Belle Ladies Pipe Band
Xiao Nan Wang	...	Siam Musician (as Xio Nan Wang)
Claire Marchand	...	Spain - Flamenco Ensemble
Jim Shewchuk	...	Spain - Flamenco Ensemble
Sheila Ghosh	...	Spain - Flamenco Ensemble
Other Members of the Winnipeg Folk Arts Group	...	Other Musicians
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Erik J. Berg	...	Orphan (uncredited)
Matthew J. Kok	...	Boy #3 (uncredited)
Arthur McKinnon	...	Extra (uncredited)
Brent Neale	...	Polish Pianist (uncredited)
Jessica Smith	...	Orphan Girl (uncredited)
Kevin Yeboah	...	African Mourner (uncredited)

Directed by
Guy Maddin

Writing credits
Kazuo Ishiguro		(original screenplay)
George Toles		(written by) &
Guy Maddin		(written by)

Produced by
Atom Egoyan	....	executive producer
Niv Fichman	....	producer
Daniel Iron	....	executive producer
Phyllis Laing	....	co-producer
Sheena Macdonald	....	co-producer: Rhombus Media
Jody Shapiro	....	producer
Barbara Willis Sweete	....	associate producer: Rhombus Media
Larry Weinstein	....	associate producer: Rhombus Media

Original Music by
Christopher Dedrick

Cinematography by
Luc Montpellier		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
David Wharnsby

Casting by
John Buchan

Production Design by
Matthew Davies

Art Direction by
Réjean Labrie		(as Rejean Labrie)

Set Decoration by
Stephen Arndt

Costume Design by
Meg McMillan

Makeup Department
Beverly A. Hamilton	....	daily hair stylist
Frances Hans	....	daily makeup artist
Ediena Hawkes	....	first assistant hair stylist
Amanda Kuryk	....	daily makeup artist
Jennifer Machnee	....	first assistant makeup artist
Brenda Magalas	....	makeup intern: FTM
Doug Morrow	....	key makeup artist
Barry Olafson	....	key hair stylist
Catherina Saites	....	daily hair stylist (as Catharina Saites)

Production Management
Matt Cahill	....	post-production supervisor
Anastasia Geras	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Danielle Dumesnil	....	second assistant director
Richard O'Brien-Moran	....	first assistant director
Michael Peleshok	....	third assistant director (as Mike Peleshok)

Art Department
Ricardo Alms	....	lead carpenter
Aaron Anderson	....	set dresser
Billy Baker	....	paint foreman (as William Baker)
Gary Barringer	....	video graphic coordinator
Lindsey Bart	....	daily greens
Ryan Berzuk	....	assistant props master (as Ryan 'Speedy' Berzuk)
Lloyd Brandson	....	key scenic artist
Jim Campbell	....	carpenter
Shawna Conner	....	art department trainee
Greg Gardner	....	graphics
Jason Gibbs	....	set dresser
Catherine Green	....	daily draftsperson
Charles Gustafson	....	scenic painter
Matthew Holm	....	on-set dresser
Scott Hopper	....	assistant carpenter
Simon Hughes	....	scenic painter
Michael Jansen	....	scenic carpenter (as Mike Jansen)
Michael Jurkow	....	daily carpenter
Debbie Kuzina	....	sets buyer
Paul Lukeman	....	daily props builder
Steve Madden	....	daily lead carpenter
Ron Makwich	....	laborer
Dave Meek	....	daily carpenter
Alison Nutt	....	daily carpenter
Gord Peterson	....	assistant art director (as Gordon Peterson)
Brent Poole	....	daily carpenter
David Potter	....	scenic carpenter
Robert Potter	....	laborer
Sab Schiavone	....	daily carpenter
Bill Sinosich	....	scenic carpenter
Craig Skene	....	daily carpentry rigger
Brian Smith	....	construction coordinator
Chris Sol	....	head carpenter
Mark Sol	....	laborer
Laura Souter	....	daily props
Larry Spittle	....	props master
Mark Stratton	....	props buyer
David Tomsett	....	daily carpenter (as David J. Tomsett Jr.)
Lawrence Van Went	....	scenic artist (as Lawrence van Went)
Remi Verfaillie	....	lead dresser (as Remi Verfaille)
Andrea Von Wichert	....	scenic painter (as Andrea von Wichert)
Burkhard Weiss	....	scenic carpenter
William Whiteheas	....	laborer
Robert Williams	....	carpenter
Lawrence Zglobicki	....	daily painter
Greg Zielinski	....	laborer

Sound Department
Don Baker	....	playback operator
Eliot Crackower	....	assistant re-recording mixer
Russ Dyck	....	sound
Matthew Friesen	....	sound intern: FTM
Ronayne Higginson	....	dialogue & adr editor
Darcy Kite	....	adr recordist
Steve Kostick	....	assistant dialogue editor
Martin Lee	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sid Lieberman	....	foley artist
Kirk Lynds	....	foley recordist
John MacDonald	....	assistant foley artist
Stan Mak	....	boom operator
David McCallum	....	sound
David McCallum	....	supervising sound editor
David Rose	....	sound designer
David Rose	....	sound
Mark Shnuriwsky	....	sound effects editor
Lou Solakofski	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lou Solakofski	....	sound
Alan Tang	....	assistant sound effects editor
David Yonson	....	adr recordist
Matthew Friesen	....	cable puller (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Mark Gebel	....	special effects
Don Greenberg	....	first assistant special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Dominique Balcaen	....	additional camera operator
François Balcaen	....	key grip (as Francois Balcaen)
Ryan Beresford	....	daily electrician
John Clarke	....	first electrician
Greg Crawford	....	grip
Gabriel Daniels	....	grip intern: FTM
Michael Drabot	....	gaffer
David Fox	....	additional camera operator
Marc Gagnon	....	electrician
Gisèle Gordon	....	additional rearscreen photographer
Ruben Guzman	....	photographer: Super 8
Casey Harrison	....	daily camera trainee (as JJ Casey Harrison)
Jason Heke	....	additional camera operator
Jason Heke	....	camera trainee
Joao Holowka	....	daily electrician
Scott Jaworski	....	electric trainee
Darren Lannoo	....	grip
Guy Maddin	....	additional camera operator
Mark McKinney	....	additional camera operator
Ross McMillan	....	additional camera operator
Christophe Nachtigall	....	grip
Richard O'Brien-Moran	....	additional camera operator
Michael Peleshok	....	additional camera operator (as Mike Peleshok)
Diyah Pera	....	still photographer
Len Peterson	....	additional camera operator
Len Peterson	....	first assistant camera
Nicolas Phillips	....	electric
Peter Rohde	....	still photographer
Rob Rowan	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Robert A. Rowan)
Jody Shapiro	....	additional camera operator
Larry Spittle	....	additional camera operator
Terry Thiessen	....	grip
Robert Thomson	....	grip (as Rob Thomson)
Shauna Townley	....	additional camera operator
Shauna Townley	....	second assistant camera
Roger Wiebe	....	grip

Animation Department
Gary Barringer	....	animator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jim Heber	....	casting: Winnipeg
Kari Rieger	....	extras casting (as Kari Reiger)
Eleanor Erum	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)
Jonathan Payne	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alison Bile	....	costume intern: FTM
Carolyn Bradshaw	....	truck costumer
Paula Dunfield	....	costume supervisor
Nadine Falk	....	daily wardrobe
Dallas Hollett	....	daily wardrobe
Karen Kristalovich	....	daily wardrobe
Jennie O'Keefe	....	daily wardrobe
Sian Morris Ross	....	assistant costume designer
Sandra Soke	....	daily wardrobe

Editorial Department
John Furniotis	....	video to film transfer: Film Effects Inc.
Brian Karn	....	on-line editor
Peter Korsitzke	....	film timer
Michael Thibodeau	....	dailies/video correction (as Mike Thibodeau)
Branko Vasovic	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Don Benedictson	....	music recordist: Winnipeg musicians
Brenda Blake	....	music supervisor
Roman Borys	....	musician: cello soloist, The Canadian Film Orchestra
The Canadian Film Orchestra	....	performers
Christopher Dedrick	....	conductor
Christopher Dedrick	....	musician: trumpet, The Muskeg Combo
Christopher Dedrick	....	orchestrator
Vern Dorg	....	musician: clarinet, The Muskeg Combo
Sonia Eng	....	musician: harp, The Muskeg Combo
Gary Gray	....	score mixer
Gary Gray	....	score recordist
Erin Hershberg	....	music coordinator
Craig Mann	....	source music editor
The Muskeg Combo	....	performers
Rebecca Pellett	....	music editor
Rebecca Pellett	....	music preparation
Rebecca Pellett	....	score recordist
Bruce Philp	....	musician: drums, The Muskeg Combo
Mark Skazinetsky	....	concertmaster: The Canadian Film Orchestra
Lenny Solomon	....	musician: violin, The Muskeg Combo
Robert Stewart	....	assistant music recordist: Winnipeg musicians
Tom Szczesniak	....	musician: piano, The Muskeg Combo
David Young	....	musician: bass, The Muskeg Combo
Jack Zaza	....	musician: mandolin, The Muskeg Combo
Velma Barkwell	....	executive producer: soundtrack album (uncredited)
Dustin Harris	....	assistant music mixer (uncredited)
Dustin Harris	....	assistant music recordist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
James Alexander	....	driver
Boris Danyliuk	....	driver
Jim DeVilger	....	driver (as James de Vlieger)
Isaac Friesen	....	driver
Marlow	....	driver: cast (as Greg Marlow)
Dave Perich	....	driver (as David Perich)
Martin Samoiloff	....	driver
Garry 'Diesel' Trosky	....	transportation coordinator (as Gary 'Diesel' Trosky)
Ralph Walker	....	driver captain (as D. Ralph Walker)

Other crew
Lorne J. Allen	....	location production assistant
Sarah Baird	....	distribution executive: Rhombus Media
Dean Batiuk	....	location production assistant
Brenda Blake	....	legal affairs: Rhombus Media
Miye Bromberg	....	location production assistant
Jason Campbell	....	location production assistant (as Jason Lloyd Campbell)
Tyson Caron	....	production assistant: Buffalo Gal Pictures
Shane Clements	....	location production assistant
Sofia Costantini	....	choreographer
Lisa Craik	....	first accounting assistant
Sarah Jane Cundell	....	key location production coordinator
Denys Curle	....	key craft service
Colette Desjardins	....	production accountant
Kelly Ditz	....	assistant craft service
Anne Dollack	....	production assistant: Rhombus Media
Jean Du Toit	....	tax credit administrator: Buffalo Gal Pictures
Martin Ellis	....	location production assistant
Robert Enright	....	diarist
Sheree Fondeur	....	set production assistant (as Sheree Betker)
Kerry Fraser	....	publicist: Buffalo Gal Pictures
Melanie Dawn Fuerst	....	location production assistant
Eileen Gano	....	second accounting assistant
Jason Glesby	....	watchperson
Russell T. Glesby	....	daily security
Wayne Glesby	....	head of security
L. Christian Goulet	....	location production assistant
Ruben Guzman	....	creative consultant
Chris Hawkins	....	location production assistant
Philippa King	....	business affairs: Rhombus Media
Vince Krochak	....	location production assistant
Christie Kucera-Evenson	....	office production assistant (as Christie Kucera)
Rick Kuchar	....	sous chef
Sara Lazer	....	business affairs: Buffalo Gal Pictures
Lyn E.A. Marlowe	....	daily craft service
Wayne Marr	....	watchperson
Kelly McKaig	....	production office intern: FTM
Kimberly Mikoluff	....	production coordinator
Alanna Mills	....	script supervisor
Bernard Narvey	....	location manager
Jo Ann Oldcorn	....	first accounting intern: FTM
Antony Papetti	....	location production assistant
Linda Pope	....	bookkeeper: Rhombus Media
Brent Prockert	....	chef
Sean Scoffield	....	title designer
Blair Scott	....	location production assistant
Leslie Stafford	....	publicist
Suzanne Stefanovic	....	production assistant: Rhombus Media
Cliff Sumter	....	assistant location manager
Caelum Vatnsdal	....	publicity notes
Jennifer Weiss	....	production associate: Rhombus Media
Colleen Wowchuk	....	assistant production coordinator
Cynthia Amsden	....	publicist (uncredited)

Thanks
Shelly Bancroft	....	special thanks
Wayne Binder	....	special thanks
Daniel Blaufuks	....	special thanks
Diane Boehme	....	special thanks
Judy Daish	....	special thanks
James Di Salvio	....	special thanks
Noam Gonick	....	special thanks
Gisèle Gordon	....	special thanks
Ian Handford	....	special thanks
John Harvie	....	special thanks
Erin Hershberg	....	special thanks
Wendy MacKeigan	....	special thanks
Michelle Marion	....	special thanks
Don McKellar	....	special thanks
Laura Michalchyshyn	....	special thanks
Graham Stewart	....	special thanks
Carole Vivier	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Rhombus Media (presents)
• Buffalo Gal Pictures (presents)
• Ego Film Arts (presents)
• Bravo! Television (in association with)
• Movie Central (in association with)
• Corus (in association with)
• Téléfilm Canada (with the participation of)
• Movie Network, The (TMN) (with the participation of)
• Super Écran (with the participation of)
• Manitoba Film & Sound (with the participation of)
• Astral Media (with the participation of)
• Manitoba Film and Video Production Tax Credit (with the participation of)
• Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC) (with the participation of)
• Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit, The (with the participation of)
• Channel 4 Television Corporation (with the assistance of)

Distributors

• E.D. Distribution (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• IFC Films (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• TVA Films (2003) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Weltecho (2006) (Germany) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• B-ware!media (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Impacto Cine (2006) (Argentina) (all media)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Moskwood Media (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Anderson House  unspecified
• Astral Media  produced with the participation of (as Astral Media The Harold Greenberg Fund)
• Bravo!  produced in association with (a Division of CHUM Limited.)
• Brick Brewing Company, The  unspecified (as Brick Brewing Company)
• Canadian Film Orchestra  orchestra
• Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC)  produced with the participation of
• Channel 4 Television Corporation  developed with assistance from (as Channel Four Television Corporation)
• Chicken Delight  extra catering
• Corus Entertainment  produced in association with
• Deer Lodge Hospital  unspecified
• Film Effects  digital video-to-film transfer
• Film Finances Canada  completion guarantee supplied by
• Government of Ontario: Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit Program  produced with the participation of (as Government of Ontario - Ontario Film & Television Tax Credit)
• Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing  vintage clothing rentals
• Kodak Canada  film stock
• Magnetic North, The  video post (as Magnetic North)
• Manitoba Film & Sound  produced with the participation of (as Manitoba Film and Sound )
• Manitoba Film and Video Production Tax Credit  produced with the participation of (as Government of Manitoba - Manitoba Film & Video Production Tax Credit)
• Movie Central Network  produced in association with (as Movie Central)
• Movie Network, The (TMN)  produced with the participation of
• Olive Garden Restaurants  extra catering
• PS Production Services  camera: grip and electric equipment (as P.S. Production Services)
• Rhombus International  foreign sales agents
• Super Ecran  produced with the participation of
• Téléfilm Canada  produced with the participation of (as Telefilm Canada)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality and violent images

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:PG | Finland:K-15 | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:15 | USA:R | Australia:M | Hong Kong:IIB | France:U | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Manitoba Production Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Company:

Rhombus Media

Trivia:

The Mexican lead singer of the mariachi band performs wearing the Republic of Panama's female national dress, called "pollera".

Quotes:

Mary:No one can beat the Siamese when it comes to dignity, cats, or twins.

Movie Connections:

References Footlight Parade (1933)

Soundtrack:

The Song Is You - Cylinder Dirge Version

`The still, sad music of humanity.'

And I thought `Dogville' was stylized. Canadian writer/director Guy Maddin ("Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary,' "Archangel') has created a film like no other this year except possibly `Triplet's of Belleville.' `The Saddest Music in the World' is a `musical' set in Winnipeg in 1933, where Lady Port-Huntly (Isabella Rossellini) is holding a contest to award $25,000 to the saddest music performer. In `Depression Era dollars,' no less.

Winnipeg has been declared by the London Times `the world capital of sorrow' for the fourth year in a row. What happens in the film can be categorized as surrealism of the sort that marries the Melies brothers in their `Trip-to-the-Moon' wackiest to `The Twilight Zone' in Rod Serling's most hilarious (and that's pretty unusual) moments. Shot in distressed mode with 8 mm blown up to be grainy and silent movieish, `Saddest' has blue-grays and silvers and occasional bursts of washed-out color that give it an otherworldly cast meant to satirize the old movies and create a new look built on nostalgia and freedom from convention that some call expressionism.

Some of the bizarre acts vying for the prize are Fyodor (David Fox), a veteran of World War I representing Canada, who plays a deathlike version of ''The Red Maple Leaves'' on an upright piano he has turned over, and Indian singers in Eskimo costumes, who dance to ''California Here I Come'' with sitars and banjos commemorating a 19th-century kayaking accident. All the time an iris lens blurs the edges of the film to recreate the ancient look of film found in a vault after 50 years.

That Lady Port-Huntly needs artificial legs is not as bizarre as the back story of how she came to need them, and that the new glass legs have local beer coursing through them is just another creative and absurdist touch. With a resemblance to the robot in `Metropolis,' she is an amalgam of strange and prophetic moments in film and culture. I know I'm not making much sense here-Trust me that this film is bizarre enough to satisfy the geekiest cultist in our audience. For the rest of us, just trying to appreciate all the signposts Maddin constructs to further his absurd and funny vision is exhausting. Wordsworth's thoughts apply because we at least hear `the still, sad music of humanity.'