Ordinary Magic
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by Malcolm Bosse
| Ordinary Magic | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Giles Walker |
| Written by | Jefferson Lewis |
| Based on | Ganesh by Malcolm Bosse |
| Produced by | Paul Stephens |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Paul Sarossy |
| Edited by | Ralph Brunjes |
| Music by | Mychael Danna |
| Distributed by | Cineplex Odeon Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Ordinary Magic is a 1993 Canadian drama film directed by Giles Walker and produced by Paul Stephens.[1] It is based on the 1981 novel Ganesh by Malcolm Bosse.[2] The film is notable for being the feature film debut of actor Ryan Reynolds.[3]
Raised in India, fifteen-year-old Ganesh (Ryan Reynolds) moves to Paris, Ontario after his father's death.[4] Facing culture shock, he uses Satyagraha (non-violent resistance) to help his aunt (Glenne Headly) stage a hunger strike against a land developer.[5]
Cast
The film features a mix of Canadian and international actors (alongside Sri Lankan actors for the India-set sequences):
- Ryan Reynolds as Jeffrey "Ganesh" Moore
- Glenne Headly as Charlotte Moore Strepski
- Paul Anka as Joey Dean[6]
- David Fox as Warren Moore
- Heath Lamberts as Mayor Walton
- Denawaka Hamine as Vani[7]
- Henry Jayasena as the Priest[8]
Filming locations
The production was filmed in two main locations:
- Canada: Scenes in the town of "Paris" were filmed on location in Paris, Ontario.[9] The town's historic architecture and the Grand River served as the backdrop for the protest sequences.[10][11]
Music
The film's score was composed by Mychael Danna, who utilized Indian classical instruments to reflect the protagonist's background.[15] Danna later won an Academy Award for his work on Life of Pi, another film with significant Indian themes.[16]