Toronto,1899. Young W.L. Mackenzie, the future Canadian prime minister, is torn between his political ambitions and his two lovers : a British soldier and a Franco-Canadian nurse...

You love apologetic biopics? Too bad : this is a dream, a very free rereading of history fantasized by Matthew Rankin who claims to have "a very imaginary relationship with the past". Not only does this adaptation of W.L. Mackenzie's memoirs reveal itself to be satirical and derisive, tackling the politician's ego and arrogance, but it's also a strong artistic statement with it's theatrical, geometrical or painted sets, that send us back to German expressionism, delving into mythical dystopias to relate the past. Another bold idea: Rankin indifferently assigns female and male roles to men or women, "rather than to strictly conform to genres": Louis Negin, Maddin's pet actor, plays a superb mother role. Shot in 16mm, The Twentieth Century offers the pleasures of the beginnings of cinema with it's magic lantern effects, and the sensation that lost documents have been rediscovered. No doubt, Guy Maddin is no longer alone: there is indeed a Winnipeg school. Winnipeg, impertinent and wonderful planet that turns stingy budgets into living dreams... Winnipeg, my love !