11 real places in Canada that are straight out of a Wes Anderson movie
Leah Collins | CBC Arts | Posted: July 17, 2017 6:26 PM | Last Updated: July 17, 2017
The Rushmore director has thousands of unofficial location scouts, and they're all on Reddit
Image | Diefenbunker - Accidental Wes Anderson
Caption: If Wes Anderson's next movie shoots in Ottawa, you can thank the internet. This photo of the Diefenbunker cafeteria appears on the subreddit Accidental Wes Anderson. (Reddit/Marcanadian)
On screen, nothing looks quite like a Wes Anderson film. But if you're paying attention, real life can look a lot like Rushmore — or Moonrise Kingdom or the Darjeeling Limited — and you don't have to book a table at his cafe in Milan to see it.
The first step? Follow Accidental Wes Anderson on Reddit. Since the subreddit started two months ago, people have been sharing photos that could inspire a lifetime of movies. The guidelines are simple: post photos of real-life places that look like something out of The Life Aquatic or the Grand Budapest Hotel. The colour-palettes must be simple — and curiously retro. The (twee?) details in the foreground and background ought to appear in equal balance — and bonus points for getting a real life member of Team Zissou in the frame. (Architecture and landscapes definitely dominate the collection, but intriguing portraits of eccentrics are encouraged.) Most crucially, though, the shot should be conspicuously symmetrical, like you could slice it down the middle with Max Fischer's Swiss Army Knife.
Since U.S. photographer Simon Sarris started the thread, its community of unofficial location scouts has grown to more than 58,000 followers — and while Iceland, Germany and North Korea would seem to be the most Anderson-friendly destinations, there's ample cinematic whimsy to be found right here in Canada. Royal Canadian Mounted Tenenbaums? They'd be right at home in any one of these scenes. We've rounded up a few of the more notable Canadian locations on the thread. Queue up a British Invasion playlist and scroll through these pics.
Image | Gander Airport
Caption: The international lounge at Gander Airport in Newfoundland. Now arriving: Wes Anderson. (Reddit/J-Darling)
Image | Winnipeg - Accidental Wes Anderson
Caption: The (Grand) Winnipeg Exchange District. (Reddit/sauze)
Image | Toronto Reference Library - Accidental Wes Anderson
Caption: The Toronto Reference Library's featured in Scott Pilgrim and The Weeknd's latest music video. Why not a Wes Anderson movie? (Reddit/Nochinnn)
Image | Accidental Wes Anderson - Montreal
Caption: If Margot Tenenbaum moved to Montreal instead of Paris... Street scene from Rue St-André. (Reddit/thegirlfromVN)
Image | Ferry boat - Accidental Wes Anderson
Caption: The only thing missing is Seu Jorge. Reddit user dedelalaf shared this photo of a ferry boat on the St. Lawrence River. (Reddit/dedelalaf)
Image | Ted Rogers School of Management - Toronto - Accidental Wes Anderson
Caption: Update: Though this art deco elevator bank is listed as being at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Bay and Dundas in Toronto, a rep from the school tells CBC Arts that's not the case. Could it be hidden somewhere else in downtown Toronto? (Reddit/DrNancyDrew)
Image | Toronto - subway
Caption: Photos of public transit seem particular popular, like this picture of one of Toronto's old subway cars. (Reddit/domofuku)
Image | Montreal metro
Caption: And this shot of Jean Talon Station in Montreal. (Reddit/flyingfossil)
Image | Fort Henry Kingston Ontario
Caption: Not a bad destination for a Khaki Scout field trip... Fort Henry in Kingston, Ont. (Reddit/samdre)
Image | Toronto - Spadina Road - Accidental Wes Anderson
Caption: House on Spadina Road, Toronto. (Reddit/jake_tobin)
Image | Brockton Point Lighthouse in Stanley Park
Caption: The Brockton Point Lighthouse in Vancouver's Stanley Park. (Reddit/thatwillwilson)
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