Leo uses Oscar speech for action against climate change

Monday, February 29, 2016, 10:26 AM - With breathtaking visuals and a classic yet brutal narrative pitting man against nature, the Hollywood film The Revenant has swept up audiences and critics since its theatrical release.

The film went into the Academy Awards with 12 nominations, including Best Picture, Actor in a Lead Role, Directing and Cinematography. 

Leonardo DiCaprio picked up best actor for the film, while Alejandro González Iñárritu snagged best director.

But earning these acknowledgements proved no easy feat.

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Cast and crew endured an 11-month shoot hampered by poor weather conditions and arduous travel to remote locations in western Canada. The film's director Alejandro González Iñárritu was adamant that scenes be shot outdoors on location, as opposed to relying on computer generated imagery and green screen technology.

This objective led to filming locations in Alberta and British Columbia, where majestic landscapes stood in for the American midwest of the 19th century.

Charging full steam ahead into the awards race, the film follows one man's fight for survival following the ultimate betrayal and a gruesome attack, all against the backdrop of an unforgiving yet hauntingly beautiful North American frontier.

Here's a look at a few scene-stealing Canadian backdrops from the Oscar-nominated film. 

Kananaskis Country, Alberta 

The majority of scenes shot in Canada were filmed in this scenic region of Alberta. Located west of Calgary and comprised of several parks and reserves in the Canadian Rockies, Kananaskis is a sought-after destination for adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts.

It was here that Oscar-winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezk captured the untouched beauty of mountain ranges under blankets of fresh snow, amid frigid winter temperatures -- a desolate and unforgiving background for a group of wearied frontiersmen. 

Bow Valley, Alberta 

Bow Valley Provincial Park, including the wide Bow River that flows through it, are featured prominently in the film. In addition to the physical demands placed on actors who waded through freezing waters, these scenes were painstakingly rehearsed in the elements. 

A trademark of Iñárritu is using only natural light when filming, so time spent shooting was comparatively short to the overall amount of time cast and crew spent outside, given the time of year. 

Drumheller, Alberta 

A location almost as famous as DiCaprio himself.

It's hard to miss the signature rock faces of Drumheller when they appear in The Revenant. Located in the Alberta Badlands, Drumheller is a special place in Canada. Otherwise known as the Dinosaur Capital of the World, it is also home to the hoodoos, tall rock formations that rise up from the area's desert landscape.

Squamish, British Columbia

POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT: If you've ever travelled along the Sea to Sky highway in southern B.C., chances are you've driven through the District of Squamish. Known as the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada, the area boasts high cliff faces that attract hundreds of rock-climbers, as well as dense, lush forests and stunning waterfalls.

Winter conditions in Squamish can be brutal for reasons entirely different from those in neighbouring Alberta. It is one of the wettest places in Canada and sees an average of 2,100 millimetres of rain each year. 

Whether you've had a chance to see the movie or not, surely by now you've heard of a graphic scene within the film depicting a vicious bear attack. No actual bears were used in filming, but the chances of spotting one in the area are not unlikely. 

Squamish is located in prime bear habitat. Though a grizzly bear is depicted in The Revenant, local officials say black bears are more common. 

Despite the array of stunning Iñárritu's vision for the film came at a price. 

Production was complicated with a number of issues, many problems related to weather. Freezing temperatures, remote locations and ever-chaging locations took their toll on the cast and crew.

The arrival of warm Chinook winds in southern Alberta (thought to be a troubling sign of climate change by lead actor Leonardo DiCaprio) resulted in a sudden lack of snow. After trucking in snow from other spots as a temporary solution, the production was forced to relocate to snowier settings in Argentina in order to complete the film.

Leo's concern for climate change was heard again Sunday night as the winning actor addressed the issue in his acceptance speech.

"Climate change is real - it is happening right now," said DiCaprio. "It is the most urgent threat facing our species, and we need to work collectively together and stop procrastinating."

And while it is indeed a real issue, it still doesn't apply to the pattern change in Alberta that challenged the film production.

Already the recipient of multiple film awards this year, The Revenant is only one of many award-winning films where Canada plays a significant role in setting (and stealing) the scene.

Check out The Weather Network on Instagram for more amazing photos of weather, wildlife and wonders of Canada. 

Sources: District of Squamish | IMDB | 20th Century Fox

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