Cheaters | Misleading sun ★★★ 1/2

Of course, the psalm set to music by Mozart punctuating the introduction to this satirical comedy is misleading. Just like the enchanting setting in which this satirical comedy, written and directed by Louis Godbout, takes place.

Marc-Andre Lussier
The Press

The cheatersas its title suggests, will on arrival have little to do with the pleasure of playing in serenity and harmony a round of golf with friends on a beautiful summer afternoon.

This second feature film by Louis Godbout (Mount Foster), also known as a screenwriter (Coda, A revision), is thus distinguished by its originality, as well as by the very particular type of humor used by the filmmaker. His observation of the human race, rather cynical, turns out to be quite fine, especially since in addition to the interactions between the characters, the story is also nourished by the many gags scattered throughout the decor.

Initially, there are three of them starting their round of golf: Hubert (Benoît Gouin), a psychiatrist by training, his spouse Florence (Christine Beaulieu), who teaches yoga to the elderly, and André (Steve Laplante), a close friend of the couple, grappling with a chronic malaise. The latter is also Hubert’s business partner and manages with his friend the destinies of a private residence for seniors.

On this golf course where each of the 18 holes is announced by a thought like “You are the sky, all the rest is only weather”, the tranquility of the trio is quickly disturbed by the presence of an unknown solitary golfer whose the bullets always land dangerously towards them. By accident ? That remains to be seen.

Towards a killing game

With his alpha male looks, Michel (Alexandre Goyette) seduces and worries at the same time. So Florence is quick to invite him to join the trio for the rest of the round. The group being only at the third hole, the scriptwriter thus has the good fortune to build a story which, we have a good feeling, is gradually heading towards a game of massacre. We quickly learn that Michel’s mother was one of the tenants of the residence managed by his new playmates…

Louis Godbout uses the decorum surrounding the practice of this elite sport to make fun of some of its elements: the dress code, the cart, the zealous supervisor (Sébastien René sports a Bavarian costume!), the very strict regulations that the players obviously never cease to happily transgress.

But beyond the satirical humor stemming from all things golf, The cheaters stands out thanks to its well-tempered dialogues, through which several social themes are addressed. In this “closed door in the open air” (as the filmmaker describes it), the masks fall over discussions relating to diversity, the treatment reserved for elders, romantic relationships. In short, we are offered here a tangy look at human nature and its gray areas. The success of this fairly niche film is also due to the formidable actors, who subtly modulate the nuances of a unique score.

“That’s what life is: a beautiful big river of bullshit says Hubert. The cheaters strives to illustrate it eloquently. And humor.

satirical comedy

The cheaters

Louis Godbout

With Catherine Beaulieu, Benoît Gouin, Steve Laplante

1:30 a.m.
Indoors

★★★½