Les noces de papier (TV 1990)

A woman agrees to a marriage of convenience with a refugee.

Director:

Michel Brault

Writers:

Alberto Kurapel (dialogue), Hélène Lebeau (dialogue),

Stars:

Geneviève Bujold, Manuel Aranguiz, Dorothée Berryman

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Geneviève Bujold	...	Claire Rocheleau
Manuel Aranguiz	...	Pablo Torres
Dorothée Berryman	...	Annie
Monique Lepage	...	Gaby
Téo Spychalski	...	Milosh Velansky
Jorge Fajardo	...	Miguel Espinoza
Gilbert Sicotte	...	Bouchard
Jean Mathieu	...	Theriault
Robert Gravel	...	Directeur immigration
Alcide Borik	...	Proprietaire du restaurant
Luiz Saraiva	...	Cuisinier
Nicolas Clarizio	...	Garçon italien
Jean L'Italien	...	Garçon italien
Rodrigo Gómez	...	Aide-cuisinier
Ramón Carrasco	...	Aide-cuisinier

Storyline

Immigration officers raid the kitchen of a Montreal restaurant. Illegal immigrant dishwashers flee, including Pablo Torres... Claire, a teacher, lives alone. Her lover, Milosh, is married, and their relationship is strained. Claire's sister, Annie, a lawyer, has a problem. The visa of her client Pablo is about to expire. Pablo is a political refugee who was tortured in his Latin American homeland. Would Claire marry him so he can remain in Canada? Claire reluctantly agrees. At least her mother is pleased! Before the modest civil ceremony can be concluded, Immigration arrives, but everyone escapes. Mum is thrilled to arrange a big church wedding and reception instead! Afterwards Claire and Pablo go their separate ways. But Immigration knows what's going on. The two are forced to live together...

---

Plot Keywords:

refugee | teaching | montréal quebec canada | sham marriage

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

French Spanish Italian English Polish

Release Date:

20 June 1990 (France)

Also Known As:

Bodas de papel

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Gross:

$229,316 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Producteurs T.V.-Films Associes, Les Productions du Verseau, National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

References Los Olvidados (1950)

---

Soundtracks

"Gracias a la vida"
Written by Violeta Parra

User Reviews

"Till Death us do part, or at least until Wednesday"

Bujold plays Claire, a loveless, near 40 woman who agrees to marry Pablo, a poet who will be deported and imprisoned(or worse) unless he becomes a Canadian citizen. They marry but the immigration officials are after the truth and take them to court. The outcome is predictable but the French script is clever and the acting, especially by Bujold, is charming. A worthwhile film from Quebec television.