What begins as a friendly cycling rivalry quickly escalates into a hilariously surreal sprint across the Canadian landscape.
With no dialogue outside of the initial narration and a playful blend of visual styles, Le Tour De Canada turns a simple cross-country race into a kaleidoscopic comedy rooted in national identity, absurdist tradition, and artistic flair. Written and directed by John Hollands, this short film defies categorization, layering satire and spectacle in equal measure while racing through its brisk runtime.
Matthew Rankin, who lends his voice as the film’s eccentric narrator, Le Tour De Canada, employs a creative collage of visual techniques. Archival clips, retro clip art, animation, stop motion, and old-school rear projection are stitched together with precision, forming a fast-paced narrative that mirrors the chaotic energy of the race itself. Every frame feels like a deliberate joke, a cultural easter egg, or a piece of handcrafted nostalgia. The result is something that looks like a lost ‘80s music video filtered through a Canada-themed fever dream.
Ben Cockell and Zander Eke portray dueling cyclists, one anglophone, one francophone, locked in a fierce but comically low-stakes battle of pride, language, and pedal power. Though the characters never speak, their rivalry is sharply drawn through movement, expression, and visual gags. Their journey from St. John’s to Vancouver is filled with escalating antics and increasingly bizarre challenges. It’s a competition marked more by national quirks and bodily exhaustion than any sense of real animosity.
The absence of dialogue shifts the focus to timing and visuals, as the film leans fully into this choice. Every sound cue and animated insert becomes a punchline, while the narration provides an ironic running commentary that adds layers of absurdity without ever overwhelming the pace. The music and editing work in tandem to keep the energy high, making Canada itself feel like both a racetrack and a punchline.
Despite its experimental nature and offbeat humor, Le Tour De Canada never loses sight of its core idea, a celebration and gentle parody of national identity. Through its exaggerated lens, we see a country vast, diverse, and more than a little strange. There is no emotional arc, no character backstory, and no philosophical message beyond the joy of committing to the bit. But in its less than ten-minute runtime, the film manages to pack in a full comedic workout and visual ingenuity. This film might not be for everyone, and may take a couple of watches to embrace its uniqueness fully.
Le Tour De Canada doesn’t ask for interpretation. It just wants you to strap in, laugh at the ridiculousness, and maybe sweat a little from secondhand exertion. It’s a visual representation of blood, sweat, and tears of a race no one asked for, but one you’ll be glad you witnessed. Whether you’re in it for the visuals, the satire, or the sheer absurdity of watching Canada fly by at breakneck speed, this experimental comedy proves that sometimes, the weirdest roads make for the most memorable rides.
Fantasia 2025 runs from July 16th to August 3rd 2025