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Tales from the Gimli Hospital

  • 19881988
  • 1h 12m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Tales from the Gimli Hospital (1988)
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Fantasy
While their mother is dying in the modern Gimli, Manitoba hospital, two young children are told a tale by their Icelandic grandmother about Einar the Lonely, his friend Gunnar, and the angel... Read allWhile their mother is dying in the modern Gimli, Manitoba hospital, two young children are told a tale by their Icelandic grandmother about Einar the Lonely, his friend Gunnar, and the angelic Snjofridur in a Gimli of old.While their mother is dying in the modern Gimli, Manitoba hospital, two young children are told a tale by their Icelandic grandmother about Einar the Lonely, his friend Gunnar, and the angelic Snjofridur in a Gimli of old.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Guy Maddin
  • Writer
    • Guy Maddin
  • Stars
    • Kyle McCulloch
    • Michael Gottli
    • Angela Heck
Top credits
  • Director
    • Guy Maddin
  • Writer
    • Guy Maddin
  • Stars
    • Kyle McCulloch
    • Michael Gottli
    • Angela Heck
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
    • 71Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos58

    Tales from the Gimli Hospital (1988)
    Tales from the Gimli Hospital (1988)
    Tales from the Gimli Hospital (1988)
    Tales from the Gimli Hospital (1988)
    Tales from the Gimli Hospital (1988)
    Tales from the Gimli Hospital (1988)
    Tales from the Gimli Hospital (1988)
    Tales from the Gimli Hospital (1988)
    Tales from the Gimli Hospital (1988)
    Tales from the Gimli Hospital (1988)
    Tales from the Gimli Hospital (1988)
    Tales from the Gimli Hospital (1988)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kyle McCulloch
    • Einar the Lonelyas Einar the Lonely…
    Michael Gottli
    • Gunnaras Gunnar
    Angela Heck
    • Snjófriduras Snjófridur
    Margaret Anne MacLeod
    • Ammaas Amma
    Heather Neale
    • Granddaughteras Granddaughter
    David Neale
    • Grandsonas Grandson
    Don Hewak
    • John Ramsayas John Ramsay
    Ron Eyolfson
    • Pastor Osbaldisonas Pastor Osbaldison
    • (as Ronald Eyolfson)
    • …
    Chris Johnson
    • Lord Dufferinas Lord Dufferin
    Donna Szöke
    • Fish Princessas Fish Princess
    Tiffany Taylor
    • Gunnar's Strolling Companionas Gunnar's Strolling Companion…
    Linda Schinkel
    • Dying Motheras Dying Mother
    Jeff Solylo
    • Angry Husbandas Angry Husband
    Randy Kray
    • Angelas Angel
    George Toles
    • Angel With Mustacheas Angel With Mustache
    Carmen Snidal
    • Sigvalda Sigurdsdottíras Sigvalda Sigurdsdottír
    Brent Neale
    • Valdimaras Valdimar…
    Greg Klymkiw
    • Gravedigger Ias Gravedigger I
    • Director
      • Guy Maddin
    • Writer
      • Guy Maddin
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    While their mother is dying in the modern Gimli, Manitoba hospital, two young children are told a tale by their Icelandic grandmother about Einar the Lonely, his friend Gunnar, and the angelic Snjofridur in a Gimli of old. —Jennifer Harrison
    • absurdism
    • surrealism
    • cult film
    • black comedy
    • blackface
    • 28 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • It all happened in a Gimli we no longer know.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Horror
      • Thriller
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the scene where Gunnar meets Einar on the beach where Einar is chopping fish, the background music used is the theme from Richard Fleischer's The Vikings (1958).
    • Quotes

      Amma: It all happened in a Gimli we no longer know.

    • Connections
      Featured in Guy Maddin: Waiting for Twilight (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      The Vikings
      (uncredited)

      from The Vikings (1958)

      Music by Mario Nascimbene

    User reviews13

    Review
    Top review
    Welcome to the world of Guy Maddin
    I can't think of a better introduction to eccentric Canadian auteur Guy Maddin than "Tales from the Gimli Hospital". Maddin's feature debut is as ingeniously bizarre and surreal as many of his later followings and despite being a bit rough around the edges it is more than deserving of its devoted cult following which regard it as one of the best films of the 80's. I can't agree with that particular statement but it is unquestionably one of the most unique and interesting films of the decade, and certainly among the more memorable Canadian films to emerge during the time period.

    While two children are witnessing their mother's slow death in a modern-day hospital in Gimli, Manitoba, they are told a story by their grandmother set in Gimli many years before. The story is a fascinating and complex one, echoing a parable at times and at others simply bizarre. Often compared to David Lynch's "Eraserhead", "Tales from the Gimli Hospital" is a far more straightforward film, actually, and one with a narrative that requires interpretation but can be followed quite easily. It is an interesting parallel to Lynch's debut, however.

    As noted previously the film is rough around the edges in terms of budget and other constraints and Maddin isn't as comfortable and confident a director as he would later become, but the film works wonderfully as a whole and comes highly recommended.

    8/10
    helpful•4
    0
    • ametaphysicalshark
    • May 17, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 15, 1988 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Languages
      • Icelandic
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Geschichten aus dem Gimli Hospital
    • Filming locations
      • Gimli, Manitoba, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Extra Large Productions
      • The Canada Manitoba Cultural Industries Development Office (CIDO)
      • Winnipeg Film Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $25,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 12 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    ‘Vertigo’ Revisited: Guy Maddin Explores Hitchcock’s Classic With Found Footage — Sf International Film Festival
    ‘Vertigo’ Revisited: Guy Maddin Explores Hitchcock’s Classic With Found Footage — Sf International Film Festival
    Apr 15Indiewire
    Guy Maddin on his surreal seances and sexploitation remakes
    Nov 26The Guardian - Film News

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