SOLO | A now political love

SOLO, the third film by Sophie Dupuis, whose trailer is unveiled on Tuesday, takes place in the world of drag queens. The filmmaker wanted to tell a love story, to which the news now gives a political tint.

Sophie Dupuis (Watch dog, Underground) has been working on this project for years and first wanted to convey a message of love and acceptance. She expected to contribute to an open mind and will likely find herself defending a reality.

SOLO, which will be released on September 15, tells the dazzling love story between two drag queens: Simon (Théodore Pellerin), a rising star, and Olivier (Félix Martaud). This romantic and creative love at first sight with destructive potential will be experienced in parallel with another difficult relationship: Claire (Anne-Marie Cadieux), Simon’s mother, a famous singer, returns to the country after a long absence. The son will seek, one guesses, the approval if not the love of an absent mother.

A rich and complex environment

What interested the filmmaker were the murky links between her characters. The fact that they are gay and drag queens is not a hot topic in his film and was never one in his mind either. However, the social context in which SOLO will take the poster will inevitably color the way in which it will be perceived and received.

Dozens of laws threaten drag queen shows in many US states that seek to prohibit performing in front of minors.

This movement is growing and even had an echo in Quebec where, a few weeks ago, people demonstrated against the holding of a story hour for children by the drag queen Barbada. An activity she has been doing for several years.

The filmmaker does not shy away from the upcoming debate. “This is just the beginning, we are starting with drags to spread hatred and intolerance towards all people in the LGBTQ+ community”, says Sophie Dupuis, who calls for vigilance and who sees the art of drag queens among other things as “a manifesto for the freedom to exist as one is”. What she considers “very important” in a society.

Preventing children from being in contact with anything other than the dominant models will not make them become anything other than who they are, she believes, and it is even harmful for those who feel different because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. “It only gives them the impression that they are not normal, analyzes the filmmaker. A child who grows up not knowing that it exists or knowing that it’s badly received will grow up hating themselves, and I think that’s where we put our children in danger. »

Big fan of the show RuPaul’s Drag Race, Sophie Dupuis fell in love with the art of drag queens because she finds it rich, complex and entertaining. Seeking to entertain is also a noble and moving thing in his eyes. “I find it special to release the film in this context, she says again, but if we can celebrate the art of drag through my film, I think we will send a message of love, and that, it’s always good. »

SOLO will be in theaters on September 15.