Slipstream

Slipstream is the story of a disc-jockey, Mike (American actor Luke Askew), who broadcasts his daily show from his remote farm house in the middle of the great Canadian prairie. His style is distant and individual and he has managed to set himself up to work independently, with no hassles, except for the big city broadcaster that carries his show. As Mike becomes more popular and the show catches on, the station`s manager begins to make demands about the kinds of things he does and the music he plays. Meanwhile, Mike has become involved with Kathy (Patti Oatman), a “hippie chick,” but pressure from the station causes the two of them to quarrel and Kathy leaves. Mike burns down the station and lands in a mental hospital, where Kathy returns to him. The film contains some beautiful visual images thanks to cinematographer Marc Champion but the film was filled with problems. At award time, when Slipstream won the Canadian Film Award for Best Feature Film in 1973, it was in competition against such highly regarded films as Kamouraska, Réjeanne Padovani, Between Friends, and Paperback Hero. Its victory did a great deal of damage to the credibility of the CFA’s international jury system.

Also see: David Acomba talks about Slipstream.