This low-budget road-movie tackles men-women relationships with humor, drama and a lot of dialogue, which the young, mostly unknown actors deliver marvelously. Interestingly enough, this story, which mostly takes place inside cars, is very entertaining, with many different views on it's subject (through all the main characters) and a sometimes thoughtful dramatic foundation which brings every thread of the story together wonderfully at the end, shaping the fragile balance between companionship and division with a song by Sinéad O'Connor: 'This Is The Last Day of Our Acquaintance'. Funny, original and more clever than it might first appear to be.
12 Reviews
Realistic and True. A quality québécois movie.
alexvergan13 July 2003
I have never been the kind to run out and watch French-Canadian movies.
However many people talked to me about this one and so I forced myself to rent it. The result: I was very genuinely surprised.
This movie is good because of the same reason Seinfeld was a top comedy for years: it's a about nothing and yet it's about everything. It's about our lives; it's about just being human beings. Everybody will recognize himself/herself in some or all the characters.
Moreover, this movie is natural, with excellent acting, even though most are inexperienced actors (if you judge from each actor's filmography).
Congratulations to all involved!!
However many people talked to me about this one and so I forced myself to rent it. The result: I was very genuinely surprised.
This movie is good because of the same reason Seinfeld was a top comedy for years: it's a about nothing and yet it's about everything. It's about our lives; it's about just being human beings. Everybody will recognize himself/herself in some or all the characters.
Moreover, this movie is natural, with excellent acting, even though most are inexperienced actors (if you judge from each actor's filmography).
Congratulations to all involved!!
Frank and revelatory conversations about sex and relationships
say_andy2 July 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Québec-Montréal is a Genie Award-nominated conversational dramedy that follows three different groups of people as they drive from Québec City to Montréal. Along the way, they have frank and revelatory conversations about sex and relationships which converge to reveal the conflicts and issues within the relationships between those in each car. And, of course, these three seemingly unconnected groups of travelers end up connecting with each other one way or another by the time the movie is over.
If you're a fan of talky comedies full of two-shots, as I am, then you'll like this flick. If that sounds incredibly boring to you, even if it were in English, then don't bother. But the sub-titles thing didn't really get in the way at all, since most of the shots are fairly static, your eyes aren't too distracted to catch the dialogue. The dialogue itself is pretty clever, both from a comedic stand-point and an observational one. My personal favourite was with the three guys driving down to Montréal to catch a flight to the vacation in Cuba, and the one dude busts on his friend in the backseat, stating that the backseat dude is so in touch with his feminine side that women date him so they can experiment with lesbianism without changing their night-time eating habits. BURN. I think I might know a dude like that.
Besides the dialogue, and the qualified performances of those delivering the dialogue, another plus for this flick is that because its French, it's chock-full of hot French chicks. I've been to Québec, and I can safely say that they seem to have an inordinate amount of hot chicks there, so it's good to see them represented here (unlike the Calgary movies I've seen, where the chicks didn't quite match up). I've actually ridden the reverse route of this movie (Montréal to Québec City), so I was hoping something might look familiar, but, no, since I was probably sleeping at the time.
Unfortunately, not everything about this flick is great. There's one particular device used throughout the movie, where a Barbie and Ken lookalike couple keep driving by in their red corvette, that is silly and pointless. I've seen useless gimmicks like this in other independent Canadian films, and I never like them. They take you out of what is otherwise a very solid, grounded film. The movie looks pretty good for its less than 2 million dollar (Canadian) budget, but there are times when you can see spots and specks on the camera lens. Ah well, thus is the nature of indie film-making.
Overall, I enjoyed it. I highly recommend it to others who like conversational comedies/dramas about relationships that slant toward melancholy. I'm not sure if it's available at all in the States, but the Canadian readers here should definitely consider checking it out.
If you're a fan of talky comedies full of two-shots, as I am, then you'll like this flick. If that sounds incredibly boring to you, even if it were in English, then don't bother. But the sub-titles thing didn't really get in the way at all, since most of the shots are fairly static, your eyes aren't too distracted to catch the dialogue. The dialogue itself is pretty clever, both from a comedic stand-point and an observational one. My personal favourite was with the three guys driving down to Montréal to catch a flight to the vacation in Cuba, and the one dude busts on his friend in the backseat, stating that the backseat dude is so in touch with his feminine side that women date him so they can experiment with lesbianism without changing their night-time eating habits. BURN. I think I might know a dude like that.
Besides the dialogue, and the qualified performances of those delivering the dialogue, another plus for this flick is that because its French, it's chock-full of hot French chicks. I've been to Québec, and I can safely say that they seem to have an inordinate amount of hot chicks there, so it's good to see them represented here (unlike the Calgary movies I've seen, where the chicks didn't quite match up). I've actually ridden the reverse route of this movie (Montréal to Québec City), so I was hoping something might look familiar, but, no, since I was probably sleeping at the time.
Unfortunately, not everything about this flick is great. There's one particular device used throughout the movie, where a Barbie and Ken lookalike couple keep driving by in their red corvette, that is silly and pointless. I've seen useless gimmicks like this in other independent Canadian films, and I never like them. They take you out of what is otherwise a very solid, grounded film. The movie looks pretty good for its less than 2 million dollar (Canadian) budget, but there are times when you can see spots and specks on the camera lens. Ah well, thus is the nature of indie film-making.
Overall, I enjoyed it. I highly recommend it to others who like conversational comedies/dramas about relationships that slant toward melancholy. I'm not sure if it's available at all in the States, but the Canadian readers here should definitely consider checking it out.
Surprise
Chris-134 August 2002
What a surprise to me. I go to the cinema in the hope of see Signs, but I was too late. So, I buy a ticket to see Québec-Montréal and... wow, a pretty interesting film. Made a low budget, like others canadian movies, we focus here on the characters and their relations between each others. It's funny, strange, but the last five minutes are, for me, a sad end. Make your own judgement.
So real it's scary
madguy4 November 2002
I'm not that big a fan of the local movies around here, but I was told to see this one, and so I did, and I sure as hell don't regret it. The discussions are incredibly real, not so much a scenario and actors as plain people just talking about relationships. What's so impressive and scary is the fact that you recognize yourself in each one of the character and that in itself will make you think for a while about who you really are, who you're becoming, depending on your age. A very funny film, trust me.
Great Script
pavillon108 August 2002
When I saw the poster of this film I thought: another stupid film. But I was completely wrong. Québec-Montréal has a brilliant script and a excellent editing.
The story takes us from Quebec city to Montreal in 4 different cars. Not much action but great dialogues. Young people between 25 and 30 years old talk about love, sex and respect. They sure have a hard time understanding the 3 subjects.
All the actors are terrific.
Don't miss that film.
The story takes us from Quebec city to Montreal in 4 different cars. Not much action but great dialogues. Young people between 25 and 30 years old talk about love, sex and respect. They sure have a hard time understanding the 3 subjects.
All the actors are terrific.
Don't miss that film.
Great Writing - Typical Pearson... in a good way...
demers-mcleod16 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Just like l'Horloge Biologique, Québec-Montréal is a GUY MOVIE... not in a Chuck Norris way, but in a sensitive (as much as guys can be) road movie "à la" Sideways. The characters are very well defined, their personalities are clear, they are revealed at a good pace, the dialogue rings true (at least to a middle-aged French-Candian man like me.... Some of their traits are clichés, but it still rings truer than most "reality shows" on TV today. The ending may leave you on your appetite, but like life life, I like movies with an open end. I recommend inviting a couple of guys over, buy a 2-4, order some "Au Coq" and make it a double feature with l'Horloge Biologique.... those who still have stamina can follow-up with Sideways... If you don't end-up in a Group Hug with your friends, than you are not good friends...
Not very entertaining
Steadtler27 July 2003
I found this movie only mildly amusing. If you think watching people in cars talk about love and sex (and not very originally) makes for a great evening, rent this movie. I had a few short laugh, but I was bored as hell the rest of it. Most of the plot was very predictable. I would not recommend it.
Excellent movie about relationships between men and women
glahaye15 August 2002
This well directed and witty movie relates the stories of many people in their late twenties who travel from Quebec City to Montreal for various reasons and talk about relationships.
The protagonists' paths all cross in ways reminiscent of "Sidewalks of New York". However, the intertwining stories are clearly set in the province of Quebec and francophones from that region will immediately associate with the language and the social references used.
This is the best canadian movie relating the difficulties encountered in relationships since "The Myth of the Male Orgasm". It provides material for laughter and for thought.
The protagonists' paths all cross in ways reminiscent of "Sidewalks of New York". However, the intertwining stories are clearly set in the province of Quebec and francophones from that region will immediately associate with the language and the social references used.
This is the best canadian movie relating the difficulties encountered in relationships since "The Myth of the Male Orgasm". It provides material for laughter and for thought.
Boring!!!!
dklucifer157 August 2013
I saw this movie on television the other night. I decided to tape it, because I expected great story, possibly a little nudity and all in all, an enjoyable experience. Boy, was I wrong!!!! This movie hasn't got any of it. The storyline is not linear, slow and not what you expected. People driving in cars, talking about life, some scenes of sex, and a very bad direction!!! My disappointment was so great that nothing could convince me to see it end. Why would somebody accept to play a part in this movie? I'm sorry, but the longer I think , no solid reason comes to mind. Absolutely unrecommendable for anything, let alone an afternoon pass time. Skip it if you can.
Not much here but watchable
rjp-4090118 July 2022
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