Barrie Film Festival

Loveless - 4PM
2018-07-04 16:00 - 18:07 (America/Toronto) | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Loveless (Nelyubov)

Screening:
Wednesday, July 4, 2018 – 4pm, 7pm
Thursday, July 5, 2018 – 4pm, 7pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie

Co-written and Directed by: Andrey Zvyagintsev
Cast: Maryana Spivak, Aleksey Rozin, Matvey Novikov
Drama, 18A for sexual content, disturbing content, coarse language, 127 minutes, Russian with English subtitles
(Russia/France/Germany/Belgium)

“Beautifully shot and acted, the story and themes get deep under the skin.” – Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

“Everything here – from the image to the dialogue to the landscape to the film’s vision and judgment – is clean, cold, and bracing.” – Matthew Lickona, San Diego Reader

“Loveless is about a state of mind, a lament, an indictment of crimes against the human spirit.” – David Edelstein, New York Magazine/Vulture

Still living under the same roof, the Moscow couple of Boris and Zhenya is in the terrible final stages of a bitter divorce. Under those circumstances, as both have already found new partners, the insults pour down like rain in this toxic familial battle zone, always pivoting around the irresolvable and urgent matter of Alyosha’s custody, their 12-year-old only son. Unheard, unloved, and above all, unwanted, the introverted and unhappy boy feels that he is an intolerable burden, however, what his parents don’t know is that he can hear every single word. As a result, when Boris and Zhenya finally realize that Alyosha has been missing for nearly two days, it is already too late. But is this a simple case of a runaway teenager?

Awards: 30 nominations and 17 Wins
Nominated – Oscar, Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards, 2018
Nominated – Best Foreign Language Film, Golden Globes, 2018
Won – Jury Prize, Cannes Film Festival, 2017
Won – Carlo di Palma Award for Cinematography, European Film Awards, 2017
Won – Best Film, London Film Festival, 2017

Individual Tickets: Adults $10, Seniors/Students $8
(prices include HST)

The Insult - 7PM
2018-06-21 19:00 - 20:52 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
The Insult (L’insulte)
Screening: Thursday, June 21, 2018 – 4 pm, 7 pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie

Co-written and Directed by: Ziad Doueiri
Cast: Kamel El Basha, Adel Karam, Rita Hayek, Camille Salameh, Diamand Abou Abboud, Carlos Chahine
Drama/Thriller, 14A for coarse language and some violent images, 112 minutes, Language: Arabic with English subtitles
(Lebanon/Belgium/Cyprus/France/USA)

“A powerful and impeccably crafted tale arguing for the crucial importance of addressing history and facing down trauma… Doueiri weaves a starkly intimate fable of violence that’s at once deeply personal and universally, globally relevant.” – Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service

“… eloquently portrays not only the galloping dehumanization that the world is living through, but above all its… deep contempt for the most basic human values ​​that inhabit the world’s geopolitics…” – Toni Vall, CINEMANIA

The latest feature from Ziad Doueiri centres on a dispute between two men on the streets of Beirut that suddenly becomes a national sensation when it opens up old wounds and traumatic memories. One afternoon in the dog days of a Beirut summer, Tony (Adel Karam) gets into an altercation with Yasser over a broken drainpipe. Tony is a mechanic and a Christian; Yasser is a construction foreman and a Palestinian. When Tony, hard-nosed and hot-headed, refuses to accept Yasser’s half-hearted apology, two bruised male egos begin to swell. Tony utters an unforgiveable insult to Yasser. With a speed neither man could foresee, their personal argument escalates through the neighbourhood and the city to the national stage. The dispute comes to encapsulate the lasting legacy of the Lebanese Civil War — and becomes a lightning rod for people with more power than either man to pursue their own agendas. Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards, The Insult is an impeccably made political drama, layered with clever observations on the complex history of the region as seen through the intimate mechanisms of an interpersonal misunderstanding.

7 Awards, 14 Nominations:
Nominated, Best Foreign Language Film of the Year, Academy Awards, USA, 2018
Winner, Audience Award/World Cinema, AFI FEST, 2017
Winner, Best Feature Film, Boulder International Film Festival, 2018
Nominated, Best Lebanese Motion Picture/Best Ensemble Cast in a Lebanese Motion Picture, The Lebanese Movie Awards, 2018
Winner, Best Actor (Kamel El Basha) Venice Film Festival, 2017

The Insult - 4PM
2018-06-21 16:00 - 17:52 | Annual Barrie Film Festival

Lean On Pete - 7PM
2018-06-07 19:00 - 21:01, 2018-06-06 19:00 - 21:01 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Lean on Pete

Screening:
Wednesday, June 6, 2018 – 4 pm, 7 pm
Thursday, June 7, 2018 – 4 pm, 7 pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie

Written and Directed by: Andrew Haigh
Cast: Charlie Plummer, Steve Buscemi, Chloë Sevigny, Steve Zahn and Travis Fimmel
Drama, 14A for coarse language, brief violence, mild sexual references, 121 minutes (United Kingdom)

“Throughout, Plummer is mesmerizing, his sunken eyes and gaunt face telling of the layers of hardships Charley is forced to endure.” – Adam Graham, Detroit News

“Again and again, I marveled at the humanist depth of the world Haigh creates, one that can only be rendered by a truly great writer and director, working near the top of his game.” – Brian Tellerico, RogerEbert.com

From acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Haigh comes a deeply moving story told through the unique prism of one boy’s connection to a very special racehorse. 15-year-old Charley (Charlie Plummer) arrives in Portland, Oregon, with his single father Ray (Travis Fimmel), both eager for a fresh start after a series of hard knocks. While Ray descends into personal turmoil, Charley finds camaraderie at a local racetrack where he lands a job caring for an ageing Quarter Horse named Lean On Pete. The horse’s gruff owner Del (Steve Buscemi) and his seasoned jockey Bonnie (Chloë Sevigny) help Charley fill the void of his father’s absence — until he discovers that Pete is bound for slaughter, prompting him to take extreme measures to spare his new friend’s life. Charley and Pete head out into the great unknown, embarking on an odyssey across the new American frontier in search of a loving aunt Charley hasn’t seen in years. They experience adventure and heartbreak in equal measure, but never lose their irrepressible hope and resiliency as they pursue their dream of finding a place they can call home. Featuring an award-winning performance by Plummer, Lean on Pete is a compassionate and heartrending look at the desire for love, family and acceptance.

7 Awards, 3 Nominations:
Winner, Truly Moving Pictures Award, Heartland Film, 2018
Nominated, Best 2018 Movies Already Seen, Indiewire Critics’ Poll, 2017
Winner, Best Picture, International Cinephile Society Awards, 2018
Winner, Best Actor (Charlie Plummer)/Best Cinematography,
Les Arcs European Film Festival, 2017
Nominee, Best Film, London Film Festival, 2017
Winner, Best Young Actor (Charlie Plummer), Venice Film Festival, 2017

Lean On Pete - 4PM
2018-06-07 16:00 - 18:01, 2018-06-06 04:00 - 18:01 | Annual Barrie Film Festival

Outdoor Screening - Back to the Future
2018-06-02 21:00 - 22:50 | Programs
– STARLIGHT CINEMA –
After a fun-filled day at Celebrate Barrie, experience the soft glow of the silver screen as you enjoy an outdoor film at the beach! Bring your blankets and lawn chairs for a movie under the stars.

Back to the Future (1985)
Saturday, June 2, 2018
Centennial Beach, Barrie
Starts at dusk (approx. 9pm), weather permitting (rain date is Jun 9). Admission is Free.

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover
Adventure/Comedy, Rated PG, 110 min. (USA)

Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is blasted to 1955 in the time machine created by Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and finds himself in a time-shattering situation that jeopardizes his future.

Foxtrot - 7PM
2018-05-17 19:00 - 20:53 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Foxtrot

Screening: Thursday, May 17, 2018 – 4pm, 7pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie

Written and Directed by: Samuel Maoz
Cast: Lior Ashkenazi, Sarah Adler, Yonaton Shiray and Shira Haas
Drama, 14A for some sexual content, substance abuse and language, 113 min., Hebrew with English subtitles (Israel/Switzerland/Germany/France)

“Brilliantly constructed with a visual audacity that serves the subject rather than the other way around, this is award-winning filmmaking on a fearless level.” – Jay Weissberg, VARIETY
“It’s a superior piece of cinema.” – David Sims, THE ATLANTIC

Samuel Maoz’s debut feature, Lebanon (winner of the Golden Lion at the 2009 Venice Film Festival), was set during the 1982 Lebanon War, and shot almost entirely inside of a tank. Foxtrot steps away from that fevered claustrophobia to tell another maddening story of war and conflict, but this one on a much broader canvas. Michael (Lior Ashkenazi) and Dafna (Sarah Adler) experience gut-wrenching grief when army officials show up at their home to announce the death of their son, Jonathan. Unable to find any solace in the well-meaning — if hollowly effusive — condolences of their extended family, or in the empty patriotic platitudes of bureaucrats, Michael spirals into anger only to subsequently experience one of life’s unfathomable twists — a twist that can only be rivaled by the surreal military experiences of his son. This film examines both the strength and the absurdity of military service from several points of view. Moving from the grieving parents’ apartment to the remote military post where Jonathan was stationed, Maoz shows us precisely how much damage can ensue when young soldiers, barely able to tell their toe from a trigger, experience boredom, privation, and loneliness. Although there is a terrible tragedy at the heart of the film, containing many moments laced with mordant humour, irony, and sincere emotional connection. Maoz once again brings us a powerful story, beautifully photographed and composed, about the lunacy of war, and its most immediate, as well as its most far-reaching impacts.

16 Awards, 14 Nominations:
Nominee, Best Film, Asia Pacific Screen Awards, 2017
Winner, Best Director, Athens International Film Festival, 2017
Winner, Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor (Lior Ashkenazi), Best Cinematography, Best Cinematography, Awards of the Israeli Film Academy, 2017
Winner, Capri Foreign Language Film, Capri, Hollywood, 2017
Winner, Best Foreign Language Film, National Board of Review, USA, 2017
Winner, Best Film, Venice Film Festival, 2017

Foxtrot - 4PM
2018-05-17 16:00 - 17:53 | Annual Barrie Film Festival

AVA - 7PM
2018-05-03 19:00 - 20:43, 2018-05-02 19:00 - 20:43 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
AVA

Screening:
Wednesday, May 2, 2018 – 4 pm, 7 pm
Thursday, May 3, 2018 – 4 pm, 7 pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie

Written and Directed by: Sadaf Foroughi
Cast: Mahour Jabbari, Bahar Noohian, Leili Rashidi, Vahid Aghapour, Shayesteh Sajadi
Drama, PG for mature theme/language, 103 minutes, Language: Persian with English subtitles (Iran/Canada/Qatar)

“Ava’s rebellion is against more than her parents’ mistrust; it’s about the cage of societal norms in Iran that stifles female creativity and self-expression. The clarity with which Foroughi presents the situation makes it easy for international audiences to follow the unfolding drama with its rising stakes.” – Deborah Young, The Hollywood Reporter

Based on her own adolescent experiences, Sadaf Foroughi’s Ava is a gripping debut about a young girl’s coming-of-age in a strict, traditional society. Living with her well-to-do parents in Tehran, Ava is a bright and focused teen whose concerns — friendships, music, social status, academic performance — resemble that of nearly any teenager. When Ava’s mistrustful and overprotective mother questions her relationship with a boy — going so far as to visit a gynecologist – Ava is overwhelmed by a newfound rage. Formerly a model student, Ava begins to rebel against the strictures imposed by her parents, her school, and the society at large.

Awards:

Nominated, International Debut Award, Göteborg Film Festival, 2018
Winner, Best Canadian First Feature Film/Honourable Mention, International Critics’ Award, Toronto International Film Festival, 2017

AVA - 4PM
2018-05-03 16:00 - 17:43 | Annual Barrie Film Festival

AVA - 4PM
2018-05-02 16:00 - 17:43 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
AVA

Screening:
Wednesday, May 2, 2018 – 4 pm, 7 pm
Thursday, May 3, 2018 – 4 pm, 7 pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie

Written and Directed by: Sadaf Foroughi
Cast: Mahour Jabbari, Bahar Noohian, Leili Rashidi, Vahid Aghapour, Shayesteh Sajadi
Drama, PG for mature theme/language, 103 minutes
Language: Persian with English subtitles (Iran/Canada/Qatar)

“Ava’s rebellion is against more than her parents’ mistrust; it’s about the cage of societal norms in Iran that stifles female creativity and self-expression. The clarity with which Foroughi presents the situation makes it easy for international audiences to follow the unfolding drama with its rising stakes.” – Deborah Young, The Hollywood Reporter

Based on her own adolescent experiences, Sadaf Foroughi’s Ava is a gripping debut about a young girl’s coming-of-age in a strict, traditional society. Living with her well-to-do parents in Tehran, Ava is a bright and focused teen whose concerns — friendships, music, social status, academic performance — resemble that of nearly any teenager. When Ava’s mistrustful and overprotective mother questions her relationship with a boy — going so far as to visit a gynecologist – Ava is overwhelmed by a newfound rage. Formerly a model student, Ava begins to rebel against the strictures imposed by her parents, her school, and the society at large.

Awards:

Nominated, International Debut Award, Göteborg Film Festival, 2018
Winner, Best Canadian First Feature Film/Honourable Mention, International Critics’ Award, Toronto International Film Festival, 2017

The Square - 7:15PM
2018-04-19 19:15 - 21:55 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
The Square

Screening:
Thursday, April 19, 2018 – 4 pm, 7:15 pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie

Written and Directed by: Ruben Östlund
Cast: Elizabeth Moss, Claes Bang, Terry Notary and Dominic West
Comedy/Drama, 14A for coarse language, disturbing and crude content, 151 minutes, English and Swedish, Danish with English subtitles (Sweden)

“It’s laugh-out-loud funny and occasionally just plain silly. But it asks a serious question that seems more urgent with every passing day: “How much inhumanity does it take before we access your humanity?” – Peter Howell, Toronto Star

“An examination of social context, elitism, cultural bubbles and more, The Square is – to put it precisely – absolutely bonkers. But purposefully bonkers.” – Tom Long, Detroit News

Swedish provocateur Ruben Östlund, the director of Force Majeure, returns with The Square, one of his most audacious pieces to date and winner of the prestigious Palme d’Or at Cannes. A spot-on, no-holds-barred satire of the more vapid foibles of the postmodern art world, the film follows Christian (Claes Bang), the imperious, self-centred, and hopelessly befuddled curator of Sweden’s most cutting-edge art museum.
He’s a divorced but devoted father of two who drives an electric car and supports good causes. His next show is “The Square”, an installation which invites passersby to altruism, reminding them of their role as responsible fellow human beings. But sometimes, it is difficult to live up to your own ideals: Christian’s foolish response to the theft of his phone drags him into shameful situations. Meanwhile, the museum’s PR agency has created an unexpected campaign for “The Square”. The response is overblown and sends Christian, as well as the museum, into an existential crisis.

Awards:
Nominated, Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards, USA, 2018
Nominated, Best Foreign Language Film, Golden Globes, USA, 2018
Nominated, Best Feature, Adelaide Film Festival, 2017
Winner, Best Non English Language Film, Alliance of Women Film Journalists, 2018
Winner, Best Foreign Language Film, Boston Society of Film Critics Awards, 2017
Winner, European Comedy, European Film, European Director,European Film Awards, 2017
Winner, Best European Film, Goya Awards, 2018
Winner, Best Foreign Film, Guild of German Art House Cinemas, 2017
Winner, Best Foreign Language Film, Toronto Film Critics Association Awards, 2017

The Square - 4PM
2018-04-19 16:00 - 18:35 | Annual Barrie Film Festival

Finding Your Feet - 7PM
2018-04-05 19:00 - 20:51, 2018-04-04 19:00 - 20:51 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Finding Your Feet

Screening:
Wednesday, April 4, 2018 – 4 pm, 7 pm
Thursday, April 5, 2018 – 4 pm, 7 pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie

Director: Richard Loncraine
Cast: Imelda Staunton, Celia Imrie, Timothy Spall, David Hayman, John Sessions, Joanna Lumley
Comedy/Drama, PG for mature theme/language, 111 minutes (United Kingdom)

“The cast lend charm to this feelgood fairy tale and Celia Imrie is especially good as the inspiring Bif.”
– Allan Hunter, DAILY EXPRESS (UK)

When ‘Lady’ Sandra Abbott (Academy Award nominee Imelda Staunton, Maleficent, Pride, Vera Drake) discovers that her husband of forty years (John Sessions) is having an affair with her best friend (Josie Lawrence) she seeks refuge in London with her estranged, older sister Bif (Celia Imrie, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel). e two could not be more different – Sandra is a fish out of water next to her outspoken, serial dating, free spirited sibling. But different is just what Sandra needs at the moment, and she reluctantly lets Bif drag her along to a community dance class, where gradually she starts finding her feet and romance as she meets her sister’s friends, Charlie (Timothy Spall, Mr. Turner, Denial), Jackie (Joanna Lumley) and Ted (David Hayman). is colourful, defiant and energetic group start to show Sandra that retirement is in fact only the beginning, and that divorce might just give her a whole new lease on love and life.

Awards:
Won, Audience Award (Best Narrative Feature), Palm Springs International Film Festival, 2018

Finding Your Feet - 4PM
2018-04-05 16:00 - 17:51, 2018-04-04 16:00 - 17:51 | Annual Barrie Film Festival

Call Me By Your Name - 7PM
2018-03-15 19:00 - 21:11 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Call Me By Your Name

Screening: Thursday, March 15, 2018 – 4pm, 7pm
Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Directed by: Luca Guadagnino
Cast: Armie Hammer, Timothée Chalamet, Michael Stuhlbarg, Amira Casar, Esther Garrel
Drama/Romance, 14A for coarse language, sexual content, mature themes, 131 minutes
English/Italian/French/German with English subtitles (Italy/France/Brazil/USA)

“The direction by Luca Guadagnino is reminiscent of Bertolucci’s sensitivity at its best, the fabulous cinematography by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom rapturously captures the rich work of art that is Italy in summer, and the actors are to die for.” – Rex Reed, New York Observer

“In what might be the most romantic movie of the year, Call Me by Your Name dispenses with cliché while focusing on the universal fantasy of first love.”- Annlee Ellingson, L.A. Biz

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME is a sensual and transcendent tale of first love, based on the acclaimed novel by André Aciman. It’s the summer of 1983 in the north of Italy, and Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet), a precocious 17- year-old American-Italian boy, spends his days in his family’s 17th century villa transcribing and playing classical music, reading, and flirting with his friend Marzia (Esther Garrel). Elio enjoys a close relationship with his father (Michael Stuhlbarg), an eminent professor specializing in Greco-Roman culture, and his mother Annella (Amira Casar), a translator, who favor him with the fruits of high culture in a setting that overflows with natural delights. While Elio’s sophistication and intellectual gifts suggest he is already a fully-fledged adult, there is much that yet remains innocent and unformed about him, particularly about matters of the heart. One day, Oliver (Armie Hammer), a charming American scholar working on his doctorate, arrives as the annual summer intern tasked with helping Elio’s father. Amid the sun-drenched splendor of the setting, Elio and Oliver discover the heady beauty of awakening desire over the course of a summer that will alter their lives forever.

Awards: 196 Nominations, 62 Wins
Nominated, Best Performance (Timothée Chalamet), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Achievement in Music, Academy Awards, USA, 2018
Nominated, Best Motion Picture, Best Performance (Timothée Chalamet), Golden Globes, USA, 2018
Nominated, Outstanding Performance Male Actor (Timothée Chalamet) Screen Actors Guild Awards, USA, 2018
Won, Movie of the Year, AFI Awards, USA, 2018

Program is Sponsored by:

Call Me By Your Name - 4PM
2018-03-15 16:00 - 18:11 | Annual Barrie Film Festival

The Leisure Seeker - 7PM
2018-03-08 19:00 - 20:52, 2018-03-07 19:00 - 20:52 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
The Leisure Seeker
Screening:
Wednesday, March 7, 2018 – 4 pm, 7 pm
Thursday, March 8, 2018 – 4 pm, 7 pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie

Directed by: Paolo Virzi
Principle Cast: Helen Mirren, Donald Sutherland, Kirsty Mitchell and Christian McKay
Drama/Adventure, 14A mature theme and language, 112 minutes
Language: English (Italy/France)

“It’s bluntly honest … and finds a rough-edged humour in that frankness.”
– Robbie Collin, DAILY TELEGRAPH (UK)

An elderly couple, both diagnosed with serious illnesses, decide to live their last days on the road instead of in a hospital. Ella (Helen Mirren) has incurable cancer. Her husband John (Donald Sutherland), a former high school English professor, is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Ella opts to tune up the vintage Winnebago they’ve dubbed “The Leisure Seeker” and hit the highway, traveling from Boston to Florida. She lets John, who’s not always sure what they’re doing or where they’re going, drive, but she assures him they’re on a vacation. They stop at diners and camp at trailer sites, on their way to Key West to visit the house where Ernest Hemingway — one of John’s favorite writers — once lived.

Awards:
Won, Capri Ensemble Cast Award, Italy, 2017
Nominated, Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Helen Mirren), Golden Globes, USA, 2018
Nominated, Best Film, Venice Film Festival, Italy, 2017
Nominated, Outstanding Feature Film and Actress (Helen Mirren), Women’s Image Awards, USA, 2018

The Leisure Seeker - 4PM
2018-03-08 16:00 - 17:52, 2018-03-07 16:00 - 17:52 | Annual Barrie Film Festival

Back to Burgundy - 7PM
2018-02-15 19:00 - 20:53 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
Back to Burgundy (Ce qui nous lie)
Screening: Thursday, February 15, 2018 – 4pm, 7pm
Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie
Co-written and Directed by: Cédric Klapisch
Cast: Pio Marmaï, Ana Girardot, François Civil, Jean-Marc Roulot and Marîa Valverde
Comedy/Drama, 14A for mature thematics, 113 minutes French/English/Spanish with English subtitles (France)

“Have you come back from your holiday brimming with buy-your-own-vineyard fantasies? Slake that thirst with this French art house crowd-pleaser.” – Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Times (UK)

“The performances are engaging and the film is very likeable, especially as we witness the landscapes through the changing seasons of sun-dappled summer and snow-clad winter.” – Allan Hunter, Daily Express (UK)

Back to Burgundy tells the story of Jean, who left his family and his native Burgundy ten years ago to tour the world. When learning of his father’s imminent death he returns to his childhood home where he, his sister, Juliette, and brother, Jérémie, inherit their family vineyard. As the seasons go by and they work to save the vineyard, they’ll have to learn to trust each other again and reinvent their relationship.

Program is Sponsored by:

Back to Burgundy - 4PM
2018-02-15 16:00 - 17:53 | Annual Barrie Film Festival

C'est La Vie! - 7PM
2018-02-08 19:00 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
C’est La Vie! (Le sens de la fête)
Screening:
Wednesday, February 7 – 4pm, 7pm
Thursday, February 8 – 4pm, 7pm
Location: Uptown Theatre, 55 Dunlop St. W., Barrie

Directed by: Eric Toledano and Oliver Nakache
Principle Cast: Gilles Lellouche, Suzanne Clément, Jean-Paul Rouve, Jean-Pierre Bacri and Judith Chemia
Comedy, 115 minutes, PG, French with English Subtitles (France)

“This is an expertly assembled, tartly played and hugely enjoyable romp …” – Boyd van Hoeii, Hollywood Reporter

“Co-directors and screenwriters Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache (Untouchables) pull another magical trick out of the hat with a ruthlessly-plotted breeze of ensemble good humour, C’est La Vie!” – Fionnuala Halligan, Screen International

Max (Jean-Pierre Bacri) is a battle-weary veteran of the wedding-planning racket. His latest — and last — gig is a hell of a fête, involving stuffy period costumes for the caterers, a vain, hyper sensitive singer who thinks he’s a Gallic James Brown, and a morose, micro-managing groom determined to make Max’s night as miserable as possible. But what makes the affair too bitter to endure is that Max’s colleague and ostensible girlfriend, Joisette (Suzanne Clément; Mommy, Laurence Anyways), seems to have written him off, coolly going about her professional duties while openly flirting with a much younger server. It’s going to be a very long night… especially once the groom’s aerial serenade gets underway. An ensemble work brimming with offbeat, lovable characters, and hilarious set pieces, C’est la vie! is a fiendishly smart, sprawling comedy as only the French do it. You will be laughing all the way down the aisle.

C'est La Vie! - 4PM
2018-02-08 16:00 | Annual Barrie Film Festival
