In Los Angeles geographically distant but emotionally closer in some ways to Montreal than many realize, the Hollywood Foreign press association 's Golden Globes awarded their prize for best actor in a comedy or musical to Paul Giamatti for his portrayal of Barney Panofsky, the composite very personal character of Mordecai Richler's novel Barney's Version. Giamatti thanked Richler's family and warmly praised Montréal as a beautiful city that he still dreams about. Richler would have been very pleased.
Richler aspired to and achieved an international reputation for his art and for the city which he loved and knew very deeply. He was at home in London, New York and Paris but he was a product of Montreal and it was this city and its complex paradoxical history that shaped his work. But lest we Canadians celebrate too heartily despite Giamatti's positive comments, the L.A. Times in its coverage of the event called Giamatti's selection an upset and Barney's Version ''the little seen Canadian film''.
Oh well, Richler would have laughed at this parochialism and so should we.
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