Backdrop

Robert Lepage directed this Canadian comedy, filmed in black and white and color and adapted from Lepage's play The Seven Branches of the River Ota. In October 1970, Montreal actress Sophie (Anne-Marie Cadieux) appears in a Feydeau farce at the Osaka World's Fair. Back in Montreal, her boyfriend Michel (Alexis Martin) watches the October Crisis on TV and sees Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau declare the War Measures Act. The Canadian Army patrols Montreal streets. Sophie learns she's pregnant and phones Michel. However, Michel is immersed in politics, while Sophie rejects the amorous advances of her co-star (Eric Bernier), becomes friendly with a blind translator, and passes an evening with frivolous Canadian embassy official Walter (Richard Frechette) and his wife Patricia (Marie Gignac). Meanwhile, in Montreal, Michael plots terrorist activities. Commenting on East-West cultural distinctions, the film intercuts between Quebec (in black and white) and Japan (in color).

1998 |1h 25m |  Drama, Comedy

Cast

cast

Anne-Marie Cadieux

Sophie Maltais

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Marie Gignac

Patricia Hébert

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Richard Fréchette

Walter

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Alexis Martin

Michel

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Éric Bernier

François-Xavier

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Marie Brassard

Hanako

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Patrice Godin

René

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Jean Antoine Charest

Claude

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Jules Philip

Policier no 1

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Tony Conte

Policier no 2

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Jean Leloup

Livreur

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Michel Lee

Étienne

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Pierre Auger

Voix

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Sophie Faucher

Voix

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Jean Chrétien

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

cast

Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

More Details

Status

Released

Language

French, Japanese, English

Budget

$1,000,000.00

Revenue

-