Short Films

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Antidepressant

TESTAMENT
TESTAMENT

• Director: Denys Arcand
• CANADA / 2023 / DCP / Colour / 115’ / French; Turkish, English s.t.

• Screenplay: Denys Arcand
• Director of Photography: Claudine Sauvé, François Séguin
• Editing: Arthur Tarnowski
• Music: Mathieu Lussier, Louis Dufort
• Cast: Rémy Girard, Sophie Lorain, Marie-Mai, Guylaine Tremblay, Caroline Néron, Alexandra McDonald, Katia Gorshkova
• Producer: Denise Robert
• Production Co.: Cinémaginaire
• World Sales: Playtime

The great Canadian master filmmaker deemed ‘a monument of Quebec cinema,’ Denys Arcand, takes a humorous look at current issues from political correctness, anti-colonialism, mortality, and identity through the eyes of an angry boomer. Jean-Michel, a 73-year-old bachelor, lives in a retirement home. His world is shaken up by the sudden arrival of young political activists campaigning for the removal of an ancient fresco in the facility. As Jean-Michel is progressively losing faith in a world dominated by political correctness, he realises his unsuspected love for Suzanne, the manager of the retirement home. ‘It’s me, but it’s not me,’ says Arcand about Jean-Michel, ‘it’s a transposition of myself. I’m not an archivist. And I’m not really retired. I should be, I guess.’ Jean-Michel is portrayed by Rémy Girard, who similarly was the historian in Arcand’s earlier films Decline and Invasions. Its premise inspired by a real protest, Testament is a comedy full of poetry by an auteur who has a penchant for history and witty contemporary satire.

This film is screened with the kind contribution of the Embassy of Canada.

This film was a Meetings on the Bridge participant.