The Handyman (1980 film)

The Handyman
FrenchL'Homme à tout faire
Directed byMicheline Lanctôt
Written byMicheline Lanctôt
Produced byRené Malo
StarringJocelyn Bérubé
Andrée Pelletier
CinematographyAndré Gagnon
Edited byAnnick de Bellefeuille
Music byFrançois Lanctôt
Distributed byRené Malo Films
Release date
  • 14 March 1980 (1980-03-14)
Running time
99 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageFrench
Budget

The Handyman (French: L'Homme à tout faire) is a 1980 Canadian drama/romance film written and directed by Micheline Lanctôt, in her directorial debut.[4]

The film stars Jocelyn Bérubé, Andrée Pelletier, Marcel Sabourin, Madeleine Guerin, Paul Dion and Pauline Lapointe. The film earned six Genie Award nominations at the 2nd Genie Awards in 1981. The film was also the only Canadian production selected for the Directors' Fortnight at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival.

Plot

The film centres on Armand Dorion, a shy, self-conscious man who works as a handyman, who falls hopelessly in love with woman after woman, each destined to break his heart.

Armand's wife has left him and people are prone to take advantage of him because of his understanding nature. After he is hired to do some work for Thérèse St-Amant, a married woman, whose husband is a boor; she turns out to be as shy and self-conscious as him, so the two begin a love affair.

The film also includes Georges, Armand's gay roommate who works as a limousine driver and has unrequited feelings of his own for Armand.

Cast

Background

The film was financed partly by the Canadian government after Lanctôt's partner of many years, Candian film director Ted Kotcheff agreed to supervise the project. The shooting schedule for the film was six weeks.[1]

Lanctôt recalls that she was criticized in Canada by feminists "because they thought my portrayal of women was savage." She went on to rebut that argument stating there are actually women like that, speaking of the "three women in Dorion's life who leave him because they are alternately bored, fickle and ambitious."[5]

The movie was the only Canadian production selected for the Directors' Fortnight at the 1980 Cannes Film Festival.[5] Lanctôt told The Canadian Press that having your film shown at Cannes is crucial for distribution, and being featured in the Fortnight "means you get much better coverage."[5] She also acknowledged she wants her movie to make a profit:

After a year and a half of working on a film, you want a return on your investment. Sure the artistic goals are there when you start a movie, but I'm not like a writer or a painter who only has a few dollars tied in material. I have a lot of money hanging over my head.[5]

Reception

Film critic Vincent Canby wrote "the performances are pretty much defined by the material, though Andree Pelletier, has some good if difficult moments as a bored housewife; the film moves slowly; in addition, the director has slopped thick, viscous music over the movie in the manner of someone trying to plug a leak in a roof; if tar could make a noise, this is what it would sound like."[6]

In respone to Canby's negative review in The New York Times. Lanctôt remarked:

I must say Canby ruined my breakfast. My omelette stayed on my plate. I was compared to Eisenstein, my lead actor to a dog, and my lead actress to a television star. I stopped paying attention to reviews a long time ago, except how they affect the existence of the film, and The Times review is the only one that matters in New York. The review means that the distribution deal may not be all we hoped for.[7]

Canadian film critic Jay Scott said it is a "film that earns one's good will slowly but surely; it is an auspicious if not especially dazzling debut for Lanctôt; Andrée Pelletier is a comedic tour de force, in scene after scene, she surprises and delights; the film in the end, is like its hero — sweetly sympathetic and understanding."[1] Critic Carole Corbeil opined "the film had grit, authenticity and humor ... much of what makes the film the gem it is has to do with the detailed and unhurried characterizations of the actors."[8] Michael Auerback from LA Weekly commented the film is "a melancholy reflection on lost love in the manner of Renoir."[9]

John Kiely from the Waterloo Region Record observed "the story is not complex, and that lack of complexity is one of the film's many benefits; Lanctôt's script is exceptionally suited for film and with the performances of her two leads, her own competent direction and the sense of place she brings to this secure little film — the film is simply not to be missed."[10] Dave Chenoweth of The Gazette offered "though the film sometimes shoves rather than seduces the viewer, Lanctôt's behind-the-camera launch offers good entertainment."[11]

Awards

The film earned six Genie Award nominations at the 2nd Genie Awards in 1981.

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Genie Awards 12 March 1981 Best Motion Picture René Malo Nominated [2][12]
Best Actor Jocelyn Bérubé Nominated
Best Actress Andrée Pelletier Nominated
Best Director Micheline Lanctôt Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Micheline Lanctôt Nominated
Best Art Direction/Production Design Normand Sarazin Nominated

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Scott, Jay (13 May 1980). "Poised for stardom, Andree Pelletier steals The Handyman's show". The Globe and Mail. p. 19.
  2. ^ a b Adilman, Sid (24 February 1981). "Feisty Micheline Lanctôt puzzled by Genie Award for achievement". The Toronto Star. p. F1.
  3. ^ The Canadian Press (21 November 1980). "Quebec filmmaker Lanctôt drools over Prairie potential". Red Deer Advocate. Winnipeg. p. 26.
  4. ^ Pratley, Gerald (2003). Harkness, Amy (ed.). A Century of Canadian Cinema. Toronto: Lynx Images. p. 92. ISBN 1-894073-21-5.
  5. ^ a b c d Worron, Trish (14 May 1980). "Lanctôt likes Cannes better now". The Hamilton Spectator. Cannes, France. The Canadian Press. p. 51.
  6. ^ Canby, Vincent (27 September 1980). "The Handyman". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 19 October 2025.
  7. ^ Scott, Jay (29 September 1980). "A review can ruin breakfast but it will not ruin Lanctôt". The Globe and Mail. p. 15.
  8. ^ Corbeil, Carole (12 September 1984). "Quebec films blessed with visual assurance". The Globe and Mail. p. 7.
  9. ^ Auerback, Michael (11 February 1982). "Le Film Quebecois". LA Weekly. p. 41.
  10. ^ Kiely, John (11 September 1980). "A sparkling gem amid the rubble". Waterloo Region Record. p. 59.
  11. ^ Chenoweth, Dave (15 March 1980). "Lanctôt's directing debut offers comedy and pathos". The Gazette. p. 88.
  12. ^ Scott, Jay (10 February 1981). "Genie nominations released". The Globe and Mail. p. 17.
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