Film Countries Archives: Canada

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A dark haired woman stands with her arms, covered in rubber gloves, bent in front of her.

The Nature of Love Simple comme Sylvain

  Monia Chokri

  Canada, France     111 minutes

Synopsis

Plenty of films have been made about adultery. But not many of them are rom-coms told from the perspective of the philandering woman. Sophia (Magalie Lépine Blondeau) is a philosophy professor whose relationship with nice guy Xavier (Francis-William Rhéaume) stimulates her mind — and that’s about it. Enter Sylvain (Pierre-Yves Cardinal), a simple handyman who excites Sophia in all the ways her partner cannot. How can she choose between these two very different men, each of whom satisfies her in distinct ways?

Writer-director Monia Chokri asks a provocative question — can sexual and intellectual gratification co-exist in the same relationship? — in this seductive, playful story about having it all.

 French with subtitles 

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Film Credits

  •   Sylvain Corbeil, Nancy Grant, Nathanaël Karmitz, Elisha Karmitz
  •   Monia Chokri
  •   Pauline Gaillard
  •   André Turpin
  •   Magalie Lépine-Blondeau, Pierre-Yves Cardinal, Monia Chokri
  •   Emile Sornin
  •   Philippe Lombart
  •   Metafilms, MK Productions

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A drag queen in a long wig and leotard performs in front of an adoring crowd.

Solo

  Sophie Dupuis

  Canada     103 minutes

Synopsis

Simon, a talented and carefree drag artist, is the rising star of his club, aided by his costume designer sister. When he meets new performer Olivier, their chemistry is immediate and undeniable. The two dive headfirst into a whirlwind romance combined with artistic collaboration, and their love and performance are both passionate and destructive. Meanwhile, Simon also finds hope in the promise of a renewed relationship with his estranged mother, a famous opera singer from whom he is desperate to receive love and artistic validation.

An increasingly controlling Olivier, a cold and distant mother, and Simon’s neglect of his supportive sister illuminate the toxic cycles of codependency and disappointment in his life, empowering him to realize that perhaps he shines most brightly as a solo act. Sophie Dupuis (Family First) returns to the festival with a vibrant and scintillating tale of self-actualization, with stunning drag performances that hold up a mirror between art and life.

 English, French with subtitles 

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Film Credits

  •   Étienne Hensez
  •   Sophie Dupuis
  •   Marie-Pier Dupuis, Dominique Fortin, Maxim Rheault
  •   Mathieu Laverdière
  •   Théodore Pellerin, Félix Maritaud, Anne-Marie Cadieux, Alice Moreault
  •   Charles Lavoie
  •   BRAVO CHARLIE

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Soft

  Joseph Amenta

  Canada      2022    

Synopsis

Three friends fall in love with summertime Toronto’s lively nightlife. Young, queer, and unapologetically self-confident, the trio spends their days holding court and plotting to sneak into a nightclub. When one of their caregivers goes missing under suspicious circumstances, reality comes crashing in and their seemingly unbreakable bond is tested. Featuring remarkable performances from its young actors, Soft is a tender portrait of youth, friendship, and life on the city’s margins.


  87 minutes

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Peace By Chocolate

  Jonathan Keijser

  Canada      2021    

Synopsis

When their factory is bombed, a Syrian family flees Damascus and spends three years living as refugees. Eventually arriving in snow-covered rural Nova Scotia, the family must adapt to unfamiliar surroundings. With the help of some friendly locals (and to the chagrin of others), the family begins to rebuild their chocolate business and their lives. This heartwarming story of perseverance and human connection in the face of insurmountable odds is based on Tareq Hadhad’s real-life story.

 Arabic, English with subtitles 
  96 minutes

Screenings & Events

Post-Screening Discussion

In-person post-screening discussion with director Jonathan Keijser moderated by film critic Lee Shoquist.

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Nadia, Butterfly

  Pascal Plante

  Canada      2020    

Synopsis

Young and in her prime, Nadia decides to retire from her career as a world-class swimmer to escape a rigid and demanding life of sacrifice. After her very last race at the Tokyo Olympic games, Nadia drifts into nights of exploration and excess punctuated by episodes of self-doubt. But even this transitional numbness cannot conceal her true inner quest as she searches to define her identity outside the world of elite sports. An official selection of the 2020 Cannes Film Festival.

 English, French with subtitles 
  106 minutes

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