Letters of Transit (film)
| Letters of Transit | |
|---|---|
Film poster | |
| French | Les Sauf-conduits |
| Directed by | Manon Briand |
| Written by | Manon Briand |
| Produced by | Manon Briand |
| Starring | Julie Lavergne Patrick Goyette Luc Picard |
| Cinematography | Yves Bélanger |
| Edited by | Richard Comeau |
| Music by | Pierre Messier |
Production company | Les Films de l'Autre |
Release date |
|
Running time | 56 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | French |
Letters of Transit (French: Les Sauf-conduits) is a Canadian short drama film, directed by Manon Briand and released in 1991.[1] The film stars Julie Lavergne, Patrick Goyette and Luc Picard.
Synopsis
The film revolves around Alice, Hubert and Marc, three people who become drawn into a love triangle while participating in a community attempt to establish a Guiness Book world record for egg tossing. Alice desires Hubert who desires Marc who desires Alice.
Cast
- Julie Lavergne as Alice
- Patrick Goyette as Hubert
- Luc Picard as Marc
- Yves Pelletier as Herve
- Claude Poissant as Chef
- Rodrigue Jean as Server
- Genevieve Legault as Bistro patron
- Richard Mondoux as Bistro patron
- Marie-Eve Pion as Child at shop
- Vincent Mondoux as Child at shop
- Claudine Paquette as Cashier
- Geoffroy Gosselin as Poster hanger
- Nicolas Moumouris as Work colleague
- Francois Turcotte as Work colleague
- David Gaucer as Alice Cooper model
Reception
Le Devoir commented that "the film treads the well-trodden paths of the love triangle, but constantly plays with form. Were it not for a somewhat amateurish production and a few clunky moments, this film could have risen from the ground and swept us away. As it stands, it is a breath of fresh air, seen through the lens of a feminine gaze full of humor and charm. The acting is remarkably natural, especially Julie Lavergne's portrayal of a young graphic designer torn between the search for inspiration and the throes of unrequited love."[2]
Film critic Jason Weickert wrote the "film is very true to life, the characters are believable, and you get a good idea what it's like to be trendy in Montreal ... although it is a little slow but the characters more than make up for it and the plot twist will have you saying - what the hell was that."[3] Andrew McIntosh from the Canadian Film Encyclopedia said "in her arresting first film, director Manon Briand crafts poetic images that are striking, fresh and occasionally quirky, and elicits uncannily natural performances from her actors."[4]
Critic Marc Horton opined that "Briand knows what she's doing with this film that explores the power of passion and friendship in a way that's unique and original. Her story about a trio of friends who want to set a Guinness record for the world's longest uncooked egg toss is a layered tale that becomes increasingly complex as the relationships between the three people change."[5]
Accolades
At the 1992 Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma, Briand won the Bourse Claude-Jutra for Most Promising Young Director, and Picard won the Prix Luce-Guilbault for Most Promising Young Actor.[6] In 1992 the film won Canada's Golden Sheaf Awards for Best Drama Over 30 Minutes and Best Director at the Yorkton Film Festival.[7] The film was later screened at the 1992 Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the award for Best Canadian Short Film.[8] The film also took the Graine de Cinephage prize at the Créteil International Women's Film Festival.[9]
See also
References
- ^ Roy, André (Winter 1992). "L'hommelette: Moyen métrage. Les sauf-conduits de Manon Briand". 24 images. Vol. 57. p. 73.
- ^ Tremblay, Odile (November 9, 1991). "Porteur de promesses". Le Devoir (in French). p. C3.
- ^ Weickert, Jason (February 20, 1992). "Les Sauf Conduits". The Gateway. Vol. 81, no. 37. p. 13.
- ^ McIntosh, Andrew (2020). "Les Sauf-conduits". Canadian Film Encyclopedia -. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024.
- ^ Horton, Marc (February 26, 1992). "Homeless woman's story a modern fairy tale". Edmonton Journal. p. D12.
- ^ Griffin, John (February 16, 1992). "La Sarrasine shows that cultural clashes are not something new". Montreal Gazette.
- ^ Yorkton Film (1992). "Canada's Golden Sheaf Award Winners 1992" (PDF). Yorkton Film Festival. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 4, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ Stevenson, Jane (September 21, 1992). "Robert Morin's Requiem is top Canadian feature film at Festival of Festivals". Montreal Gazette.
- ^ Pallister, Janis L.; Hottell, Ruth A. (2005). Francophone Women Film Directors: A Guide. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-8386-4046-3.