Documentary 'Broken Country' paints grim picture of Canada's recent challenges

Canadian director Mira Metter and her husband Mike Werry have produced 'Broken Country', a documentary that challenges the view of Canada as a progressive model for the United States. Drawing on interviews with over 4,500 citizens and more than 70 experts, the film documents growing concerns about healthcare delays, exemplified by a man who waited 15 hours for surgery and later faced an offer of medical assistance in dying.

The filmmakers also point to a rapid rise in temporary immigration—about 2.3 million newcomers in one to two years—straining housing, transportation and public services. They criticize current drug policies, including safe-injection sites, and note that the drug epidemic mirrors trends in the U.S. Across political lines, interviewees report difficulties affording homes, living paycheck to paycheck, and accessing timely medical care. The documentary premieres in limited theatres on September 18 in Canada and the United States, with a wider Amazon Prime release scheduled for October 26.