One of the most admired films by visual artist Joyce Wieland (1930–1998), Rat Life and Diet in North America tells the story of rats (actually pet gerbils) held as political prisoners in the United States (their jailer a cat), who make a heroic escape to Canada. Although this narrative is recounted through wryly worded intertitles, Wieland’s film nonetheless conveys a sense of menace and urgency. For these protagonists “Canada” becomes a utopian destination, promising abundance, pleasure, and peace. The film was created in 1968, when international student protests against the military and capitalist establishments, the rise of the New Left, and worldwide demonstrations against the Vietnam War were commonplace. During this time many young American men fled to Canada to avoid being drafted into the military.