| 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
Plot
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 Dean6
- David Fox as Warren Moore
- Heath Lamberts as Mayor Walton
- Denawaka Hamine as Vani7
- Henry Jayasena as the Priest8
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.1011
- Sri Lanka: The India sequences were filmed in the Hikkaduwa region of Sri Lanka.12 (in 2023, Ryan Reynolds stated that Hikkaduwa remains his "favourite movie shooting location of all time."1314)
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
Awards
- Brussels International Film Festival: Winner of the Audience Award (1994).17
- Genie Awards: Nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay (Jefferson Lewis).18
References
References
- Lenti, Paul (November 28, 1993). "Ordinary Magic". Variety. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
- "GANESH by Malcolm J. Bosse". Kirkus Reviews. April 1, 1981.
- "Hikkaduwa is my favourite movie shooting location: Actor Ryan Reynolds". Daily Mirror. March 5, 2023.
- The Globe and Mail, Nov 8, 1993.
- The Canadian Film Encyclopedia, TIFF, 2003, p. 312.
- Anka, Paul (2013). My Way: An Autobiography. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-0312381042.
- "Denawaka Hamine: The grand old lady of Sri Lankan cinema". National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
- "The versatile Henry Jayasena". The Sunday Times. November 15, 2009.
- Bill Brownstein, "Filming magic on a shoestring". Montreal Gazette, January 15, 1994.
- Rybak, Stephanie (1992-10-22). "Hometown Pride: Paris, Ontario's role in Ordinary Magic". The Paris Star. p. 1.
- "Filmed in Brant: Ordinary Magic (1993)". County of Brant Official Website. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
- "Ordinary Magic (1993) - Filming Locations". IMDb.
- "Ryan Reynolds recalls filming in Sri Lanka". The Island. March 6, 2023.
- "Ryan's Sri Lanka memory". The Morning. March 12, 2023.
- "Mychael Danna: Ordinary Magic Score". MychaelDanna.com. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
- "Academy Awards Database: Mychael Danna". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
- "Brussels International Film Festival: 1994 Awards". BIFF.
- "The 1994 Genie nominees". Playback. November 7, 1994. Retrieved June 1, 2021.