Ordinary People
Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Donald Sutherland trained as an actor in Canada and the United Kingdom before his career took off in the United States. Over a span of 60 years, with his distinctive charisma and features, the actor has taken on numerous roles in theatre, television, and, most notably, cinema. We pay tribute to him by showcasing three films that contributed to his rise to fame in the early 1970s (M.A.S.H., Klute, and Kelly’s Heroes), one of his most emotional performances (Ordinary People), and one of his significant forays into Quebec cinema (Act of the Heart).
Winner of four Academy Awards in 1981, including Best Picture
Conrad Jarrett is recovering from the accidental death of his older brother Bucky. His mother hides behind a facade of false happiness, and his father is preoccupied with his professional obligations.
Robert Redford
Robert Redford is an American actor, director, producer, and activist. Considered one of the most influential figures in American cinema, he delivered iconic performances alongside Paul Newman in classics like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and The Sting (1973), and in All the President's Men (1976). As a director, Redford achieved critical acclaim with his debut film, Ordinary People (1980), which won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. His directorial success continued with films like A River Runs Through It (1992) and The Horse Whisperer (1998). In 1981, Redford founded the Sundance Institute, which sponsors the Sundance Film Festival. Under his influence, Sundance has become a major event in the global film industry, helping to discover talents such as Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, and Darren Aronofsky.
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About Donald Sutherland
Donald Sutherland received an Academy Honorary Award in 2017 "for a lifetime of indelible characters, rendered with unwavering truthfulness".
