Director: Philippe Lesage
Screenwriter: Philippe Lesage
Producer: Galilé Marion-Gauvin
Editor: Mathieu Bouchard-Malo
Cast: Théodore Pellerin, Noée Abita, Édouard Tremblay-Grenier, Pier-Luc Funk, Émilie Bierre, Maxime Dumontier, Paul Ahmarani, Jules Roy Sicotte, Antoine Marchand-Gagnon, Brett Dier
Cinamatographer: Nicolas Canniccioni
Genesis
Genèse
Wisconsin Premiere • narrative • Canada • 2018 • DCP • French with English subtitles • 130 MIN
section: New International Cinema
A superlative look at young desire and heartbreak, Genesis perceptively traces the emerging love lives of two Montreal siblings. Guillaume is the smirking class clown of his boarding school, a natural performer who entertains his peers with impressions and pranks. In a parallel story, recent grad Charlotte dumps her boyfriend after an indecent proposal. Guillaume's easy confidence hits a stumbling block when he develops feelings for his best friend, while Charlotte finds herself in a troubling situation after becoming involved with an older guy. Featuring excellent performances by its two up-and-coming leads and a knockout soundtrack, Genesis is quietly radical in relaying its universal tale, willing to go in whatever directions its heart takes it. "Exciting and heartbreaking like a true first love… feels intensely alive and in the moment" (The Hollywood Reporter). "Absolutely mesmerizes. Lesage's eye for emotional truths is so keen and his cinematic voice so sensitive, every frame of this movie feels like a piece of youth distilled, raw and precious" (The Film Stage). "Superior, authentic, heartbreaking" (Screen Anarchy). Best Film, Best Actor, 2018 Montreal Festival of New Cinema. Best Film, 2018 Los Cabos Film Festival. (MK)