We have had the sense of Gordon Pinsent as an actor, one who shined much later in his career. The River of My Dreams shows us that Pinsent was also a strong writer, painter, and storyteller.
The storytelling element is best described when he talks about emigrating from Newfoundland to the mainland in North Sydney, Nova Scotia. This was before Newfoundland became a part of Canada, which didn't happen until 1949.
The Brigitte Berman documentary shows how Pinsent ended up in Toronto and then Winnipeg. Pinsent's big break was as the lead of Quentin Durgens MP, one of the first hour-long dramas in Canadian television. The show was about a member of Parliament from the riding of Moose Falls, Ontario. Quentin Durgens MP ran from 1965-1969 on CBC.
He also worked in theatre in Stratford where he formed a friendship with Christopher Plummer. Pinsent spent some time in Hollywood where he formed a friendship with Wally Cox and met Marlon Brando.
We learn personal details, like having 2 children with his first wife, whose name we never learn. His second marriage to actor Charmion King lasted 45 years. King died in 2007. Leah, his daughter with King, is a well-known Canadian actor.
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Pinsent's decision to come back to Canada also meant being more involved, such as writing and starring in The Rowdyman (1972). Being in Canada was important to Pinsent.
The film shows him painting as part of the background for Pinsent being in the 2016 documentary. We don't know if he had professional success with the art or more of a hobby.
Canadian acting legend Gordon Pinsent passes away at the age of 92
The film utilized motion capture technology to tell Pinsent's childhood. The fact that Pinsent himself was responsible for making that work is remarkable. The technology does feel a bit creepy. Even if you dislike the technology, the technology only applies to the recreation of his childhood.
Pinsent was a Canadian pioneer because there weren't too many TV and film options in Canada when he first started. His Hollywood career helped establish what he brought when returning back to Canada. This inspired thousands of Canadian actors about succeeding in the United States as well as in Canada.
The River of My Dreams is a delightful presentation of a long and wonderful life with an inspiring career that lasted decades.
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The River of My Dreams: A Portrait of Gordon Pinsent is available on the Documentary Channel in Canada.
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