Program Note
The second feature film directed by Xavier Legrand, who made Custody (2017). While gaining attention in Paris, France, designer Ellias receives news that his father has passed away. To attend the funeral of his father, whom he hasn't contacted in a long time, Ellias takes time to return to his hometown of Quebec, Canada, for the first time in 20 years. While sorting through his father's belongings, he encounters a shock that he can no longer dismiss as merely annoying. From that moment, the atmosphere of the film changes completely. By focusing on a limited time and space without lengthy explanations, LEGRAND's unique direction shines once again, making the audience imagine countless times and spaces beyond what is shown on screen. The suspicion and tension surrounding the shock build up to an explosive climax towards the end. Can Ellias truly distance himself from the father he so desperately did not want to resemble? The answer remains elusive until the very last moment, keeping you on edge. (Rhana JANG)