SOLO, the third film by Sophie Dupuis, whose trailer is unveiled on Tuesday, takes place in the world of drag queens. The filmmaker wanted to tell a love story, to which current events now give a political tint.
Sophie Dupuis (Chien de garde, Souterrain) has been working on this project for years and first wanted to convey a message of love and acceptance. She expected to contribute to an open mind and will likely find herself defending a reality.
SOLO, which hits theaters September 15, tells the dazzling love story between two drag queens: Simon (Théodore Pellerin), a rising star, and Olivier (Félix Martaud). This romantic and creative love at first sight with destructive potential will be experienced in parallel with another difficult relationship: Claire (Anne-Marie Cadieux), Simon’s mother, a renowned singer, returns to the country after a long absence. The son will seek, one guesses, the approval if not the love of an absent mother.
What interested the filmmaker were the murky links between her characters. The fact that they are gay and drag queens is not a hot topic in his film and was never one in his mind either. However, the social context in which SOLO will perform will inevitably color the way it will be perceived and received.
Dozens of laws threaten drag queen shows in many US states that seek to ban performing in front of minors.
The filmmaker does not shrink from the debate that is coming. “This is just the beginning, we start with drags to spread hatred and intolerance towards all people in the LGBTQ community”, says Sophie Dupuis, who calls for vigilance and who sees the art of drag queens among others as “a manifesto for the freedom to exist as one is”. What she considers “very important” in a society.
Preventing children from being in contact with anything other than the dominant models will not make them become anything other than who they are, she believes, and it is even harmful for those who feel different because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. “It just makes them feel like they’re not normal,” says the filmmaker. A child who grows up not knowing that it exists or knowing that it is badly received will grow up hating themselves, and I think that is where we put our children in danger. »
A big fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Sophie Dupuis fell in love with the art of drag queens because she finds it rich, complex and entertaining. Seeking to entertain is also a noble and moving thing in his eyes. “I find it special to release the film in this context, she says again, but if we can celebrate the art of drag through my film, I think we will send a message of love, and that, it’s always good. »
