Movie set to open based on the story of Saskatchewan farmer Percy Schmeiser

By Saul Miller Special to Alta Newspaper Group on October 14, 2020.

More than a decade in the making, the film Percy opens in select Canadian cities on Oct. 9.

Percy is based on the true-life story of Percy Schmeiser, a small-town Saskatchewan farmer whose precedent-setting legal case ended in the Supreme Court of Canada after a seven-year battle with the multinational agricultural giant, Monsanto.

Academy Award winning actor Christopher Walken plays Percy, Zach Braff (Garden State, Scrubs) is Schmeiser’s lawyer, and Christina Ricci (Sleepy Hollow, Monster) plays an eco-activist supporting Schmeiser’s plight. The movie is directed by Clark Johnson (The Wire), a Canadian filmmaker with a history of telling stories focused on social justice issues.

“Percy” explores the importance of food security in relation to modern farming practices. Schmeiser’s case made international headlines and had legal implications for the agricultural industry around the world.

A controversial figure, Schmeiser was eventually found to have infringed on patent law. However, the Canadian farmer is considered a hero by environmentalists and farmers worldwide for having stood up for their rights. The film was shot in Manitoba in 2018 in Winnipeg and the surrounding area. Follow @percy_movie on IG/Twitter or go to @percythemovie on Facebook for more news and showtimes near you.

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