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Maman est chez le coiffeur (2008)
Best Canadian film I've seen in a long time
When I was in Montréal last weekend, I went to see MAMAN EST CHEZ LE COIFFEUR (MOMMY IS AT THE HAIRDRESSER'S) with two friends. Even though there were no English subtitles, my American friend was able to follow the simple storyline, but we both missed most of the jokes.
When the credits rolled at the end, I wanted to clap, but everyone in the full theatre sat in reverent silence. Afterwards, we couldn't stop raving over this beautiful piece of cinema. It was perhaps the best film I had seen in a long time.
Set in suburban Montréal in 1966, it's about a woman (Céline Bonnier)who leaves her husband (Laurent Lucas) and three children (Marianne Fortier, Élie Dupuis and Hugo St-Onge-Paquin) to take a journalist posting in London. It also features veteran actor Gabriel Arcand. Similar to other great French-Canadian films like LÉOLO and C.R.A.Z.Y., it uses humour to deal with serious subjects, in this case, parental abandonment.
Everyone in the cast was wonderful, but it's the children who make the movie so special.
Marianne Fortier, who played the title role in the controversial 2005 film AURORE, is convincing as the eldest child, Élise.
Élie Dupuis, who was discovered by the director on a TV variety show earlier in 2007, is Coco, who deals with his mother's absence by determinately building a go-cart and quietly crying in his bed.
I was actually most impressed with Hugo St-Onge-Paquin, who plays the youngest brother, Benoit. Even as I write this, I'm a little choked up as I remember the heart-breaking scenes where he chases after his mother's car and where he touches his mother's face on the television.
An unexpected delight was a small comedic role by Antoine Desrochers as Carl, a blond neighbour boy wearing lederhosen who shares tall tales about his lineage.
That day I also went to Archimbaud's on Ste-Catherine Street and bought the soundtrack which features the two songs by Élie (BANG BANG and THE GREAT ESCAPE), but unfortunately does not include the many great 60's era tunes in the movie.
I hope they decide to release it in English Canada, and if not, then soon on DVD. This bittersweet film and several of its performers are certainly worthy of Canada's Genie Awards, and maybe even an Oscar nomination.