Slipstream (1973 film)

Synopsis

The film stars Luke Askew as Mike Mallard, a popular but reclusive radio DJ who broadcasts his show from an isolated barn in the wilderness. After he is discovered by four young people, he begins to get romantically involved with one of them, Kathy (Patti Oatman), while simultaneously battling with Alec (Eli Rill), his producer who wants him to play more contemporary pop hits.

The film's soundtrack includes music by Van Morrison and Eric Clapton.

Critical reception

The film's Best Feature Film win, over Kamouraska, Réjeanne Padovani, Paperback Hero and Between Friends, was widely derided by critics. The Globe and Mail film critic Betty Lee acknowledged that the film showed some promise on Acomba's part, but concluded that it "sags embarrasingly under its weight of honors". In its December 1973 year in review, the paper named it as the worst film of the year, and singled out the Canadian Film Award jury for a special "Grand Prix for General All-Around Stupidity" for choosing it over four much stronger nominees.

Its victory was also later cited as an indication that the Quebec film directors who had boycotted the 1973 awards out of a perception that the event had a systemic bias against Quebec filmmakers, prompting the 1973 awards to be announced only by press conference and the subsequent 1974 awards to be cancelled entirely, had been correct in their beliefs.