Time for a bit of Canadian dry wit and energy, coupled with a desire to suck the proverbial marrow out of Montreal life (as the late Robin Williams might have stated decades before to ‘Hell-ton’ students in DEAD POETS SOCIETY (1989)) in Patricia Chica‘s comedy-drama MONTREAL GIRLS.
For medical student Ramy (Hakim Brahimi), his sense of duty to his recently deceased mother prevails in the halls of study, even though deep down he has aspirations to be a working poet, finding the words of wisdom to rhyme with the voice in his heart.
However, like anyone who comes to seek a new adventure in a new city like Montreal, the rules eventually go out the window within days of arrival to stay with his uncle and cousin Turner (Jade Hassoune). Club nights beckon where Ramy watches Turner perform in a modernised punk band and it is here he meets free-spirits Desiree (Jasmina Parent) and Yaz (Sana Asad), who certainly have a wise pair of shoulders each.
Soon, the alcohol intake starts to outweigh the school modules intake as Ramy decides to get to know his new inner circle, an odyssey that will give him food for thought and a thirst for spiritual enlightenment as he aims to achieve what he truly wants to do, as we all do in matters of the heart. For Ramy, his affection for both Desiree and Yaz is both an ace and a bluff as he attempts to lay his emotional cards out….
Fans of the likes of BEFORE SUNRISE and MISTRESS AMERICA will cheer for a film that both celebrates and embraces thoughtful youth and free-spirited abandon, backed up by a refreshing cinematic landscape of Montreal (lensed with passion by Alexandre Bussiere) that rivals classic cinematic favourites like LA, London and New York, plus the inevitable status quo of diverse conflict and reflection that seems to define so many films these days.
MONTREAL GIRLS is in turn both intelligent and sensitively handled, allowing the performances and relationships to evolve more naturally, with a great youthful ensemble of actors who will certainly be destined for bigger and better things. Expect equally the same from talented helmsperson Chica.
An intelligent movie about youth up there with the likes of THE BREAKFAST CLUB and the aforementioned DEAD POETS SOCIETY.
The Los Angeles International Film Festival runs from 1st – 6th November 2022.
For info and tickets, please go to:
For more about MONTREAL GIRLS, please go to:
https://www.montrealgirlsmovie.com/
