“Canadian, Sniper” (2024) is an introspective Canadian war drama directed and written by Michel Kandinsky. The film focuses on an unnamed former elite Canadian army sniper (portrayed by François Arnaud), who returns to rural Canada after tours in Afghanistan, struggling with intense PTSD as he tries—and often struggles—to adjust to civilian life .
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Silent return: The sniper retreats to his father’s remote farm, haunted by past combat and unable to distinguish between memory and reality. The film delves deep into isolation, trauma, and the scars invisible to others
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Blurring lines: Flashbacks to Afghanistan are woven into his present-day story, creating tension between his haunting mental state and contemporary attempts to find closure—including a subplot about his missing father .
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Minimalist style: With a deliberate, slow-paced narrative focusing on emotional authenticity, the film eschews traditional war-movie tropes in favor of psychological depth
“Canadian, Sniper” offers a quietly powerful character study of a soldier’s return—and breakdown—in post-war life. Its strength lies in mood, performance, and visual framing; its weakness stems from a pace and structure that some may find too restrained. If you appreciate films like The Deer Hunter or Taxi Driver, stripped down to inner conflict post-war, this one may resonate. Otherwise, its meditative style might feel slow.
