Born in London, Ontario, indie Canadian filmmaker Albert Nerenberg has directed several films that became hits with audiences in North America, including the satirical doc Stupidity (2003) and the NFB co-production Escape to Canada (2005), whose story begins in 2003, when by apparent coincidence, gay marriage and marijuana are legalized on the same day. 

Escape to Canada opens with black-and-white footage from NFB newsreels, asking the question, “When I say Canada, what do you think of?” Known for his provocative humour, Nerenberg provides answers like “monotonous talking” or “boring,” then goes on to challenge typical beliefs about his native country. These scenes are followed by two women kissing, people smoking marijuana and shots of the Pride Parade, while a voice on the soundtrack announces, “It’s legal, legal, legal…” and the voiceover states: “With the arrival of the new millennium… something changed in Canada.” 

Soon, Canadians are not the only ones enjoying their newly forged liberties. Citizens from “the Land of the Free” flock across the border to marry their same-sex partners. In his signature no-holds-barred style, Nerenberg reveals a never-before-seen Canada, in an action-packed voyage into freedom Canadian style.

After the success of Escape to Canada, Nerenberg continued to make a name for himself in the Canadian film industry with titles like Let’s All Hate Toronto (2007), Laughology (2009), Boredom (2012) and You Are What You Act (2018).