The work of Jean-Marc Vallée will be hailed in Venice. A parallel section of the prestigious Venice Film Festival will devote an entire day to the late director, as well as to Quebec cinema.
To mark the occasion, the Giornate degli Autori, better known as Venice Days, will hold a special screening of C. R. A. Z. Y. in restored version. Released in theaters in 2005, this family chronicle depicting the tense relationship between a father (Michel Côté) and his son (Marc-André Grondin) in the heart of the 1970s had propelled the international career of Jean-Marc Vallée.
The filmmaker followed with films such as The Young Victoria (2009), Café de Flore (presented in world premiere in Venice in 2011) and Dallas Buyers Club (2013), and two series for HBO, Big Little Lies (2017) and Sharp Objects (2018). Jean-Marc Vallée died on December 25, 2021 of a heart attack.
The 20th edition of Venice Days, which celebrates the best in auteur cinema, will also feature a masterclass featuring actress and director Monia Chokri (Babysitter, Simple comme Sylvain).
In addition to Jean-Marc Vallée and Monia Chokri, the Giornate degli Autori will highlight other Quebecers, including Ariane Louis-Seize. The director will present her first feature film, Vampire humaniste seeks suicidal consenting.
Reached by phone Thursday, in the middle of a sound mixing session, Ariane Louis-Seize said she was “extremely happy” with the announcement, which she described as “incredible recognition”.
“Venice was my plan A. It’s the best possible scenario. Having a first international showcase in a festival like the Mostra, when I think of all those who have been there before me, it’s really exciting. »
In Official Selection, Humanistic Vampire Seeks Consenting Suicidal stars Sara Montpetit (Maria Chapedelaine) as Sasha, a young vampire too humanistic to bite who seeks people who want to die to avoid taking innocent lives. She ends up meeting Paul (Félix-Antoine Bénard), a lonely teenager with suicidal thoughts, who agrees to offer himself to her.
“I wanted to make a vampire movie, but I also like coming-of-age stories, dark comedies,” says the director. I like to play with genres. »
Known for her numerous short films such as The Small Waves, The Depths and Like a Comet, Ariane Louis-Seize co-wrote the screenplay with Christine Doyon. “It’s a film that raises big questions, philosophical and human. I wanted to play with it all. »
Steve Laplante, Sophie Cadieux, Noémie O’Farrell, Marie Brassard, Patrick Hivon and Marc Beaupré also appear in the credits of Vampire humaniste seeks suicidal consenting. Several actors should accompany the director to Venice in a few weeks, not to mention the producers, Jeanne-Marie Poulain and Line Sander Egede.
The film will be released in Quebec on October 13. “I feel fulfilled,” says Ariane Louis-Seize. I can’t wait to find out what’s next. I can’t wait to see what life awaits the film. »
The Venice Days selection also includes Quitter la nuit by Delphine Girard. This Belgian-French-Quebec co-production notably stars Anne Dorval. The drama tells the story of a woman in danger who calls the police, and the ensuing investigation to try to confirm the guilt of the arrested man. European actors Selma Alaoui, Veerle Baetens and Guillaume Dhesme complete the cast.
Several Quebec films were presented in this parallel section, including Incendies by Denis Villeneuve. The 20th edition of Venice Days will take place from August 30 to September 9, as will the 80th Venice Film Festival.
