Monday, March 3, 2008

"Away From Her" dominates Canada's Genie Awards


By John McCrank
1 hour, 32 minutes ago


TORONTO (Reuters) -
The film "Away from Her" was the big
winner on Monday night at Canada's Genie Awards, winning seven
statuettes, including best picture, best actor, best actress
and best director for first-time filmmaker Sarah Polley.

Polley, 29, a longtime darling in the Canadian acting
scene, also took home a Genie statuette for best adapted
screenplay and won the Claude Jutra Award, recognizing
outstanding achievement by a first-time feature film director.

"The ridiculousness of me winning this award is not lost on
me ... this is totally absurd but thanks," said a humbled
Polley after accepting the award for best director.

Gordon Pinsent took home the best actor award for his role
as a man trying to cope with the institutionalization of his
wife due to Alzheimer's disease in "Away From Me."

Pinsent's on-screen partner, Julie Christie, won for best
actress, and Kristen Thomson won for best supporting actress.

Director David Cronenberg's dark Russian mob film, "Eastern
Promises
," also took home seven awards, including best
supporting actor for Armin Mueller-Stahl and best original
screenplay for Steve Knight.

Two words heard often during the evening were "Kill bill,"
followed by "C10."

The reference was to a bill drafted by Canada's
Conservative government that would deny tax credits, and
effectively kill the production of any film or television show
deemed offensive or not in the public's best interest.

"Censorship has had a little work done and is trying to
make a comeback," said host Sandra Oh of TV's Grey's Anatomy,
to her biggest applause of the night.

"I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound very
Canadian to me."

Her comments were echoed by retired Gen. Romeo Dallaire,
who led the United Nation's mission in Rwanda and whose
experiences the Genie-nominated film "Shake Hands with the
Devil" was based on.

Dallaire, now a Canadian senator, pointed out that Bill C10
still had not made it through the Senate and could still be
amended.

"Shake Hands with the Devil" was nominated for 12 awards,
but was almost shut out, taking home only best original song.

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