The Last Meal (film)
| The Last Meal | |
|---|---|
| French | Le Dernier repas |
| Directed by | Maryse Legagneur |
| Written by | Maryse Legagneur Luis Molinié |
| Produced by | Bernadette Payeur François Bonneau |
| Starring | Gilbert Laumord Marie-Evelyne Lessard |
| Cinematography | Mathieu Laverdière |
| Edited by | Myriam Magassouba |
| Music by | Jenny Salgado |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Maison 4:3 |
Release date |
|
Running time | 111 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Languages | French Haitian Creole |
The Last Meal (French: Le Dernier repas) is a Canadian drama film, directed by Maryse Legagneur and released in 2024.[1] Inspired by a true story, the film stars Gilbert Laumord as Reynold Célestin, a Haitian man who suffered as a political prisoner under the Jean-Claude Duvalier regime in the 1970s. In the modern day he is dying of stomach cancer in Montreal, and attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter Vanessa (Marie-Evelyne Lessard) over regular meals in his hospice room, sharing his recollections of the traumatic experiences that damaged both him and their familial relationship.[2]
The cast also includes Fabrice Yvanoff Senate, Mireille Métellus, Jean Jean, Vincent D'Arbouze, Ralph Prosper, Natalie Tannous, Joseph Bellerose and Xiaodan He in supporting roles.
The film premiered on September 15, 2024, at the 2024 Quebec City Film Festival,[1] before going into commercial release on September 27.[3]
Accolades
| Award | Date | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec City Film Festival | 2024 | Grand Prix | Maryse Legagneur | Won | [4] |
| Kingston Canadian Film Festival | 2025 | Best First Feature | Won | [5] | |
| Miami Film Festival | 2025 | Marimbas Award | Won | [6] | |
| Quebec Cinema Awards | 2025 | Best Cinematography | Mathieu Laverdière | Nominated | [7] |
| Best First Film | Maryse Legagneur | Nominated |
References
- ^ a b Charles-Henri Ramond, "Dernier repas, Le – Film de Maryse Legagneur". Films du Québec, September 19, 2024.
- ^ Olivier Du Ruisseau, "«Le dernier repas»: panser les blessures intergénérationnelles". Le Devoir, September 24, 2024.
- ^ Manon Dumais, "Parfums d’Haïti". La Presse, September 27, 2024.
- ^ Kathleen Lavoie, "Le film Le dernier repas primé au Festival de cinéma de la ville de Québec". Ici Radio-Canada, September 16, 2024.
- ^ Nicholas Sokic, "Shepherds wins top prize at Kingston Canadian Film Festival". Playback, March 3, 2025.
- ^ Matthew Carey, "‘The Last Meal,’ ‘Omaha’ And ‘The Python Hunt’ Among Winners As 42nd Miami Film Festival Wraps". Deadline Hollywood, April 14, 2025.
- ^ "Québec Cinéma dévoile les finalistes aux Prix IRIS 2025". CTVM, October 8, 2025.