Québec Focus
Discover what we have in common with people from Canada’s French-speaking province of Québec. The films in this collection explore the lives of Québécois living in modern Montreal, taking up native dance, experiencing an endless suburban summer, languishing in a sawmill town with a vast snowy backdrop, and caught in imaginary dream-worlds.
Estimated total run time: 100 minutes.
Rated R16 for sex scenes, offensive language, sexual abuse themes & suicide.
La Peau Sauvage (Wild Skin)
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Fantasy, 19 mins, Canada
NZ Premiere
Dir/Writ: Ariane Louis-Seize
Prod: Jeanne-Marie Poulain, Hany Ouichou
The quiet life of a solitary woman is disturbed when she discovers a baby python in her apartment. This unleashes her deepest urges and will let her express, for the first time, who she truly is.
No Wave


Thriller, 12 mins, Canada
NZ Premiere
Henry listens to the sounds of ocean waves on a relaxation radio station to soothe his anxiety and help him sleep. But did he just hear the screams of a drowning man in his calming sea? Dir/Writ/Prod: Stephane Lapointe
Mutants


Coming of age, 17 mins, Canada
NZ Premiere
Dir/Writ: Alexandre Dostie
Prod: Hany Ouichou, Gabrielle Tougas-Fréchette
In the summer of 1996, life throws a curveball in the face of Keven Guénette… and it strikes. Guided by his paraplegic baseball coach, Keven discovers the mutation: sex and love.
Bleu Tonnerre (Blue Thunder)
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Musical, 21 mins, Canada
NZ Premiere
Dir/Writ: Philippe David Gagné, Jean Marc E. Roy
Prod: Gabrielle Tougas-Fréchette, Ménaic Raoul
Bruno is a sawmill worker in his thirties who breaks up with his girlfriend. He breaks into song while trying to sort out his life, and rekindle his previous glory as a wrestler named Blue Thunder.
Mon Dernier Été (My Last Summer)
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Coming of age, 15 mins, Canada
NZ Premiere
Prod: Étienne Hansez
During a summer heat wave in Montreal, two 11-year-olds, Tom and Édith, meet and become close friends. When Tom discovers Édith’s terrible secret, his innocence is shattered. Dir/Writ: Paul-Claude Demers
Sonny Side Up


Documentary, 7 mins, Canada
NZ Premiere
Dir/Writ/Prod: Sonny Papatie
An inspiring documentary about how a young man changes his life when he gives up drugs and alcohol to become a traditional dancer.
Vaysha, L’Aveugle (Blind Vaysha)
Animation, 9 mins, Canada
NZ Premiere
Dir/Writ: Théodore Ushev
Prod: Marc Bertrand
This award-winning animation tells the story of little Vaysha, who has a left eye that sees the past and a right eye that sees the future, preventing her from living in the present.
Screenings
Auckland Central – Rialto Cinemas Newmarket
Thu 2 Nov | 6:30 pm Book tickets |
|
Sun 5 Nov | 3:30 pm Book tickets |
Devonport – The Vic
Wed 1 Nov | 7:30 pm Book tickets |
*Filmmaker Q&A to follow |
Christchurch – Alice Cinematheque
Sun 19 Nov | 6:30 pm Book tickets |
Stewart Island – Bunkhouse Theatre
Wed 10 Jan | 7:30 pm |
Wellington CBD – Embassy Theatre
Fri 10 Nov | 8:30 pm Book tickets |
|
Tue 14 Nov | 6:30 pm Book tickets |
|
Sat 18 Nov | 4:30 pm Book tickets |
Devonport – The Vic
Wed 1 Nov | 7:30 pm Book tickets |
*Filmmaker Q&A to follow |