Here are our 5 favorite Quebec films of 2023

In addition to having enjoyed success at the box office, Quebec cinema offered us several varied and high-quality films in 2023. Here are our five favorites of the year.

The plunger

Transposing a novel that was as successful as The plunger was necessarily a perilous exercise. But filmmaker Francis Leclerc succeeded in his bet by concocting a dynamic and very effective adaptation of Stéphane Larue’s book, carried by a delicate and nuanced performance by the young Henri Picard. (MD)

Solo

After having signed two very successful first feature films (Watch dog And Underground), Sophie Dupuis once again shows the extent of her talent with this flamboyant and electrifying film about the world of drag queens. The director’s favorite actor, Théodore Pellerin delivers a breathtaking performance as a drag queen who tries to escape a toxic and destructive romantic relationship. (MD)

Simple like Sylvain

Actress and director Monia Chokri gave us one of the most beautiful Quebec films of the year with this funny and brilliant romantic comedy, in which she explores the complexity of the feeling of love by depicting the improbable love at first sight between a professor of philosophy of 40 years (Magalie Lépine-Blondeau) and a construction entrepreneur from the Laurentians (Pierre-Yves Cardinal). (MD)

Will

The least we can say is that this new (and last?) film by Denys Arcand has left no one indifferent. True to himself, the filmmaker of Decline of the American Empire and Barbarian invasions paints a devastating portrait of our society by making fun of political correctness, cancel culture and lack of respect for elders. It’s not always subtle, but it’s still very effective and sometimes brilliant. (MD)

The red rooms

We do not emerge unscathed from Red rooms by Pascal Plante, a breathtaking and highly stylized work where two young women develop an unhealthy obsession with a serial killer. It’s disturbing, it’s impactful and, above all, it’s frankly unforgettable. (BL)