Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney is a kaleidoscopic montage collage that takes you back to a comedic editing style that dates to before the internet or even on-demand TV. It tracks the rise to power of Brian Mulroney within the old Progressive Conservative Party of the late ’70s and early ’80s.
Here, as Mulroney was for many people growing up in this era, he is almost a TV character who happens to be named Brian Mulroney. He has a charm, a wit, and a sparkle to him that are not matched by any of the others. The film uses very creative glitch animation, compositing, and editing to capture that energy. It is able to capture just why Mulroney was so compelling, especially in comparison to the other politicians both in his own party and in the Liberal Party at the time.
The edit is a bit slow, even with the amount of interesting and vivid imagery. The archival footage is bountiful, and there are a lot of funny jokes and plenty of poking fun at different Canadian figures. There is also so much recognizable Canadian iconography that, even for a person who did not grow up in this era, there was always something that provoked a memory or a sense of déjà vu.
It certainly puts the game of politics, and Canadian politics specifically, in a brand-new light. The experience was purely enjoyable, especially with an audience that understands the context of the film. I think it helps if you know a lot of the Canadians featured in this movie, but it’s not necessary. Still, this is certainly a Canadian movie through and through.
Considering it was funded by the National Film Board, it still manages to feel somewhat bipartisan in its approach. I have always been a fan of letting the audience draw their own conclusions, and this film delivers on that.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Brian Mulroney is playing at TIFF ’26. For more information, click here.
