Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Wetlands (2011)

Wetlands • Marécages (2011)
Wetlands • Marécages (2011)

Genre: Drama
Director: Guy Édoin
Starring: Pascale Bussières, Gabriel Maillé, Luc Picard, François Papineau
Language: French
Duration: 111 min.
Rating: 7.5  

Summary:
In the middle of a drought, a tragedy disrupts the life of the Santerre family on a dairy farm in Quebec's Eastern Townships.



Wetlands is the debut feature film from writer director Guy Édoin. It premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival.

Édoin makes a strong mark with this immersive drama that brings to mind the raw feeling and vast natural landscapes of Bruno Dumont's Humanity and Flanders. It's set in rural Quebec and tells the story of a family of struggling dairy farmers over the course of one long dry summer. Life is not easy for the Santerres, the well is running dry, debts are mounting, and then a major tragedy strikes which changes their lives forever.

The screen play is very well written, and fits perfectly with the documentary like cinematography. All the characters and events are entirely believable and well acted, which makes this almost feel like we are watching real farm life. Pascale Bussières is outstanding in the central role as Marie the mother. She looks almost too glamorous for the part of a farmer's wife, but handles the powerful role convincingly. While young Gabriel Maillé impresses as the troubled teenage son Simon.

It does however have a few weak points. The stark opening seems out of place with the tone of the rest of the film, and there are some moments of unnecessary repetition that will bore some viewers. But overall this is a wonderfully mature debut from another talented young Quebec filmmaker.

Bonjour Tristesse


Wetlands • Marécages (2011)

Wetlands • Marécages (2011)

Wetlands • Marécages (2011)

Wetlands • Marécages (2011)

Wetlands • Marécages (2011)

Wetlands • Marécages (2011)

Wetlands • Marécages (2011)

Wetlands • Marécages (2011)

13 comments:

FrontRoomCinema said...

Sounds great. I will definitely keep an eye out for this one BT

Michaël Parent said...

Thanks for bringing light on this one I didn't noticed it when it came out. It will be a part in my Je me souviens series!

Virgnie said...

Yay Québec filmmakers! You just made me extra proud and Michaël: represent my friend! Check this one out right away :)

Beasts in Human Skin said...

I must be the only person who doesn't get excited about films from Quebec.

Lisa Thatcher said...

This looks great.  Great review as usual.  I'll catch it when it (finally) gets here.

d_4 said...

Yeah I could watch this. Just why not, I guess

NeverTooEarlyMP said...

This one sounds pretty interesting to me, and it sounds like Edoin may be one to watch out for in the future. Thanks for the great review!

Bonjour Tristesse said...

 Yeah I hope this makes it out your way.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

 Cool, it would be great to read another opinion about this one.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yeah, you guys are doing some really amazing work these days. I can't wait to get a chance to see your film.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Well there's not much else going on right now in Canadian film to be excited about.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

 Thank you Lisa. I hope it eventually makes it down there.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

Yep I'll be keeping an eye on that name.

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