Chaindance is a 1990 Canadian drama film

Drama film

A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...

. The film stars Michael Ironside

Michael Ironside

Michael Ironside is a Canadian-born actor. He has also worked as a voice actor, producer, film director, and screenwriter in movie and television series in various Canadian and American productions. He is best known for playing villains and "tough guy" heroes, though he has also portrayed...

, Brad Dourif

Brad Dourif

Bradford Claude "Brad" Dourif is an American film and television actor who gained early fame for his portrayal of Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and has since appeared in a number of memorable roles, including the voice of Chucky in the Child's Play franchise, Younger Brother in...

, Rae Dawn Chong

Rae Dawn Chong

Rae Dawn Chong is a Canadian-American actress.-Life and career:Chong was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the daughter of Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong. She and her sister Robbi were raised by her grandmother, Tommy Chong's mother. Chong's father is of Chinese and Scottish-Irish ancestry and her...

, and Don S. Davis

Don S. Davis

Don Sinclair Davis PhD was an American character actor, theatre professor, painter and captain in the United States Army.-Career:He was perhaps best known for playing General George S...

 as "Sergeant".

Plot

The film is based on Alan Aylward's work with physically disabled children as a recreational therapist at a residential chronic care centre in Toronto from 1974 to 1980. The original script suggested Nick Nolte as Blake (played by Mike Ironside) and John Hurt as Johnnie (played by Brad Dourif). Hurt (who Aylward had worked with on his Documentary Series - The Disability Myth, was interested in the role of Johnnie) Nolte's agent wanted a few million dollars for a retainer which Aylward couldn't muster in his life. Thus the next choice - Ironside. The film only got made because of Mike Ironside. He was on set with Nick Nolte and Powers Boothe in New Mexico making a film called Extreme Prejudice. Aylward gave the script to Lori Rotenberg, Mike's Toronto agent, who sent it to Ironside to read for the role of Blake. Ironside just finished the script (a prison story) when Nolte emerged from his trailer to announce that he had just secured the rights to produce "Weeds", based on the book by the same name - and also "a prison story". Ironside thought it was pure serendipity. If Nolte's gutsy enough to make a prison film, why not Ironside. Mike optioned the script from Aylward in 1987/88 and despite the odds, got it produced in Vancouver and released within two years - Kudos to him. A few years later, the British Columbia Corrections Ministry started a program between prisoners and institutionalized handicapped patients based on the fictitious rehabilitation program in Chaindance.

Recognition

• 1991
  • Genie Award for Best Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design
    Genie Award for Best Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design
    The Genie Award for Best Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design is awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to the best Canadian film art direction/production design.-16th Genie Awards:* François Laplante, Le Confessionnal...
    
     - Phil Schmidt - Nominated
  • Genie Award for Best Achievement in Editing
    Genie Award for Best Achievement in Editing
    The Genie Award for Best Achievement in Editing is awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to the best Canadian film editor.-1st Genie Awards:* Stan Cole, Murder By Decree* Jean Beaudin, Cordelia* Ron Wisman, Fish Hawk...
    
     - Allan Lee
    Allan Lee
    Allan Lee is a film editor that has been nominated for two Genie Awards .In 1991 Lee was nominated for the Genie for Best Achievement in Film Editing for Chaindance , and in 1989 he was nominated for the Genie for Best Achievement in Film Editing for A Winter Tan , along with Susan Martin...
    
     - Nominated
  • Genie Award for Best Motion Picture
    Genie Award for Best Motion Picture
    The Genie Award for Best Motion Picture is awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to the best Canadian motion picture.-1st Genie Awards:*The Changeling *Cordélia...
    
     - Richard Davis - Nominated
  • Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
    Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
    The Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role is awarded by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to the best Canadian actor.-1st Genie Awards:* Christopher Plummer, Murder by Decree...
    
     - Brad Dourif
    Brad Dourif
    Bradford Claude "Brad" Dourif is an American film and television actor who gained early fame for his portrayal of Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and has since appeared in a number of memorable roles, including the voice of Chucky in the Child's Play franchise, Younger Brother in...
    
    - Nominated