Canary

Play trailer

Canary

2019

2h 0m

Drama

Musical

LGBTQ+

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Drafted into the South African army during apartheid, a young soldier joins the military's traveling choir, and romance on the battlefield causes him to deal with his long-repressed sexual identity.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Gary Goldstein

Los Angeles Times

Jun 6, 2019

[A] rich, poignant and finely observed musical-drama.

Go to Full Review

Jude Dry

IndieWire

Oct 19, 2018

This surprisingly fun musical examines the effects of nationalism on a tender soul, and the bond of brotherhood among misfits.

Go to Full Review

Sheri Linden

The Hollywood Reporter

Jul 23, 2018

Olwagen's third feature is a winning combination of thoughtfulness and exuberance that could translate into international theatrical play beyond its fest run.

Go to Full Review

Ben Turner

The Pink Lens

Sep 1, 2021

4/5

Kanarie gives us a handful of vivid characters who we grow to root for. Paired with a host of cinematic treats, this makes for a strong movie with a clear voice that is probably the best movie in Afrikaans you'll see

Go to Full Review

Michael McNeely

theBUZZ

Oct 22, 2019

Every once in a while comes a film that is filled with so much joy, human connection, and emotional turmoil, you know that as long as it sticks the landing, it is a masterpiece.

Go to Full Review

Terry Mesnard

Gayly Dreadful

Jul 15, 2019

3.5/5

What's fantastic, though, is that [it] juxtaposes this inner turmoil with the greater problems facing South Africa in the 80s.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Liam D

@Mediawatcher2003 Nov 11, 2024

Combining a musical and coming of age drama. This is a wholly unique experience

See more

Jul 28, 2020

Christiaan Olwagens finest

See more

Nov 23, 2019

Amazing gay coming of age film. Funny, passionate and provocative.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Christiaan Olwagen

Director

Schalk Bezuidenhout

Johan

Hannes Otto

Wolfgang

Germandt Geldenhuys

Ludolf

Gérard Rudolf

Reverend Koch

Jacques Bessenger

Reverend Engelbrecht

Saturday Church

93%

70%

Saturday Church

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Saturday Church

Everybody's Talking About Jamie

81%

67%

Everybody's Talking About Jamie

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Everybody's Talking About Jamie

Minyan

93%

47%

Minyan

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Minyan

Punch

79%

77%

Punch

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Punch

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Drafted into the South African army during apartheid, a young soldier joins the military's traveling choir, and romance on the battlefield causes him to deal with his long-repressed sexual identity.

Director: Christiaan Olwagen
Producer: Jaco Smit
Screenwriter: Christiaan Olwagen, Charl-Johan Lingenfelder
Distributor: Breaking Glass Pictures
Production Co: Marche Media (PTY) LTD
Genre: Drama, Musical, LGBTQ+
Original Language: Afrikaans
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 7, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 18, 2019
Runtime: 2h 0m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings