Montreal a bilingual city? The issue was put on the table a few weeks ago by a mayoral candidate who suggested a referendum to decide on the question. The truth is that Montreal is, de facto although not de jure, a bilingual city. And we are glad about that—well, most people, I guess.
Nowhere is this bilingual character more present than in that annual event known as Cinemania. In its 27th edition, this film festival brings us a selection of some of the best movies in French every year. Most of them are from France and other francophone nations—but with the addition of English subtitles. A handy addition indeed, since in some cases non-francophone people may be familiar with everyday French, but not necessarily with some of its nuances or colloquialisms—the subtitles are then a convenient help. On the other hand, Francophones might have access to French-language movies that, paradoxically, are not always available here. In short, from a cultural and linguistic point of view, Cinemania is a win-win proposition for everybody in our city.
her philosophy instructor, will open the Cinemania festival
THE LINEUP
Catherine Therrien’s feature film “Une révision” will open the festival on Tuesday, November 2 at the Imperial Cinema, before playing across the province on November 4. This is a Quebec-made film: “Étienne, a philosophy professor at the Cégep, teaches his students with passion. One day, Nacira, one of his students, puts into practice what he has taught them: questioning. Étienne and Nacira embark on a journey that challenges their deepest convictions.”
The closing movie is “Lost Illusions,” directed by Xavier Giannoli (France). This movie is an adaptation of the novel by Honoré de Balzac, which had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where it was in competition. It stars Cécile de France, Vincent Lacoste, Jeanne Balibar, Gérard Depardieu, Benjamin Voisin and Quebec’s Xavier Dolan. In its description, we read: “France, 1800s. Lucien, an unknown young poet, leaves his native province to try his luck in Paris. Left to his own devices, he discovers the backstage of a world devoted to the law of profit and pretense. A human comedy where everything is bought and sold, literature as well as the press, politics, feelings, reputations, and souls. He will love, suffer, and survive his illusions.”
During the almost three weeks of the festival, which will feature online and in-theatre events, the list of movies includes: Catherine Corsini’s “The Divide,” presented this year in the official competition at the Cannes Film Festival.
Some of the other films are “The Night Doctor,” directed by Elie Wajeman, “Anais in Love” by Charline Bourgeois-Tacquet, “Wars” by Quebec’s Nicolas Roy, “The Restless” by Belgian director Joachim Lafosse, and the Franco-Lebanese family drama “Memory Box,” a co-production between Lebanon, France and Canada, directed by Khalil Joreige and Joana Hadjithomas.
In one event highly anticipated, Cinemania will present Valérie Lemercier’s “Aline,” a drama freely inspired by the life of Céline Dion, on November 23 at Place-des-Arts during a Gala screening at Théâtre Maisonneuve in the presence of the film’s entire crew, including the director. This film will be released everywhere in Quebec on November 26, 2021.
For the entire listing of movies, descriptions, and ticket prices for both the public and online shows, please visit the site www.festivalcinemania.com
Cinemania will run from November 2 to 21. Online films will be available across Canada.
Feature image: “Aline”, a movie freely-inspired in Céline Dion’s career, will also be part of this year’s lineup.
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