If there is one observation regarding the cinema year 2023, it is that it was particularly rich. In this regard, the Oscar race is likely to be thrilling. However, after the traditional anthology of prestigious offerings in December, there is often a scarcity in January and February in the quality department. No matter, there is still something beautiful and good on the horizon. Among our selection of 25 titles, moviegoers should find something to dazzle this winter and spring.
After a fabulous first part, Dune: Part Two (Dune. Secondpart), of Denis Villeneuve, is undoubtedly the most anticipated feature film of the lot. So much so that this event film, where the adventures of Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya continue against the backdrop of a desert planet and others towards giant sands, risks eclipsing all other Hollywood blockbusters – including superhero films (March ).
In this regard, it will be interesting to see if the “superhero fatigue”, observed after several consecutive flops at Marvel and DC, is a temporary or prolonged phenomenon. This means that Madame Webof SJ Clarksonwith its powerful psychic character (Dakota Johnson) from the Spider-Man universe, will have a lot of box office pressure (February).
We are also very curious to discover Spacemanby Johan Renck, a science fiction drama where Adam Sandler finds himself isolated at the edge of space with, as his confidante, a mysterious entity lurking in the darkness of his ship (Mars).
In the parent genre of anticipation, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (Furiosa. A Mad Max saga), of George Miller, offers an origin story for the charismatic postapocalyptic driver. Anya Taylor-Joy succeeds Charlize Theron in the title role (May).
In a completely different register, Origin see the filmmaker Ava DuVernay adapt not only the flagship work Caste: The Origins of Our Discontentsby Isabel Wilkerson, but also the life of the author, who questioned the notion of racism from the angle of a human hierarchy, that is to say castes (January).
From Europe
For those who do not fear being disturbed, The Zone of Interestof Jonathan Glazer, will not be missed. It follows a Nazi official who lives with his family right next to the concentration camp of which he is the director (January).
Strong reactions are also expected for The consentadaptation by Vanessa Filho of Vanessa Springora’s autobiographical novel about the psychological and sexual influence exerted on her by the pedophile writer Gabriel Matzneff when she was only 14 years old (February).
On the biographical front, the tragic fate of the singer Amy Winehouse will be revisited in Back to Blackby director Sam Taylor-Johnson (May).
With The Silver Venus, it is for her part a story of emancipation that Héléna Klotz offers. The singer Claire Pommet (known as Apple) plays a determined financial aspirant (March).
In a more contemplative vein, Perfect Daysof Wim Wenders, focuses on the daily life, more rewarding than it seems, of a public toilet cleaner. Koji Yakusho won the Best Acting Award at Cannes for his magnificent performance (February).
From Quebec and elsewhere at the same time
Co-production between Quebec, Belgium and France, the psychological suspense The successor marks the return of Xavier Legrand after the shock that was To the hilt. Marc-André Grondin embodies a fashion designer based in Paris who, as his fame explodes, is forced to return to Quebec to manage the funeral of the father to whom he no longer spoke (February).
Also a co-production, this one between Quebec, Belgium, France and Italy, The braidof Laetitia Colombaniinterweaves three destinies of women all braving adversity, each on their continent (January).
And three co-productions, this time between Quebec and Poland, with Irena’s Vow (Irena’s Promise), of Louise Archambault. This historical drama tells the true story of a Polish nurse (Sophie Nélisse) who saved twelve Jews by hiding them from the Nazis (March).
Featuring an intriguing title, the suspense Lucy Grizzly Sophie is actually an adaptation of the play The pack by its author and performer, Catherine-Anne Toupin. The playwright and actress plays a woman on the run who forms a troubled relationship with the owner of the Airbnb where she found refuge (Guillaume Cyr). The gifted Anne Émond directs the feature film (February).
Another evocative title: On earth as in heavenof Nathalie Saint-Pierrein which a teenager who grew up cut off from the world in a fundamentalist Christian community runs away to Montreal in the hope of finding her missing sister (April).
In short, this is undoubtedly something to feed your movie-loving spirit between now and summer.