Men With Brooms, an English-language Canadian comedy set in theheady world of curling, has enjoyed spectacular success on its debut weekend inCanada through Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution. Taking C$1.04m,it scored the highest opening weekend of all time for an English language localproduction - and, playing at 207 theatres, it is also the widest openingfor a Canadian film in history.

The film, which was producedby Robert Lantos' Serendipity Point Films, stars Paul Gross, who alsoco-wrote and directed, along with Leslie Nielsen and Molly Parker in the storyof a curling team which reunites on the deathbed wishes of their former coachto win the national trophy.

"At long last the myththat Canadians have no enthusiasm for Canadian movies has beenshattered," gushed a delighted Robert Lantos. "This means more tome than a Palme D'or in Cannes. I feel jubilant and vindicated."