International Literature Festival | Five essential stops at the FIL

From Friday, the International Literature Festival (FIL) will take us on a journey through the universe and the words of nearly 200 writers and artists. In addition to the opening show, which will pay tribute to the late Marie-Claire Blais, here are five key events not to be missed between now and October 2.

Laila Maalouf
The Press

Like a forest of poems

The literary show Country women: our forests, by Véronique Côté, was born from the encounter between two works published last year: the collection of poetry by Hélène Dorion My forests and the novel by Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette forest woman. Actresses Eve Landry and Lise Roy share the stage to recount these two universes made up of skies, lands and seasons, while Florence Blain Mbaye signs the music on stage.

September 29 and 30, 8 p.m., at the Outremont Theater

A great novel at the theater

Alain Farah’s autobiographical novel, A thousand secrets, a thousand dangers, has been widely noticed since its publication in the Quartanier last fall. Now its author is now undertaking to stage the third chapter of the book alongside Marc Beaupré, in a theatrical production called Songs of a Thousand Secrets. Alain Farah, Pascale Montpetit, Manuel Tadros, Noémie O’Farrell and Ralph Prosper will interpret.

September 26 to 29, 8 p.m., at Usine C

Poetic and musical reflections

Poetry, music and visual arts will come together during the show The dark shadow that we are, a creation by Marc André Brouillette, Denise Desautels, Monique Jean and Dominique Malaterre. In the background of this work which questions the meaning of history, individual rootedness, language, the other and marginality, we can hear, echoing the heartbreaks of our time, the ever so topical words of the late Austrian author Ingeborg Bachmann.

September 24, 7 p.m. and September 25, 2 p.m., at the Montreal Conservatory of Dramatic Arts

Between song and poetry

O wolf! is a creation that Loui Mauffette describes as his “poetic palpitations”. The multidisciplinary artist will be a transmitter of poetry, in particular with readings of texts, but will also make us hear a selection of his favorite songs. He will be accompanied by some of his accomplices on stage — Catherine De Léan, Maxime Denommée, Étienne Lou, Patricia Nolin and Gilles Renaud.

September 25 at 4 p.m. and September 26 at 7 p.m. at the Lion d’Or

Inspiring St. Laurent

The literary concert Foreshore was born from the meeting between the poet Isabelle Miron, the composer Sébastien Sauvageau and the foreshore of the St. Lawrence, this portion of the coast which is exposed to the tides. We promise a bewitching work that pays homage to the grandeur of the river and its shore with traditional airs from Quebec and contemporary sounds borrowed from the soundscape and jazz, the creators being accompanied by violinist Dâvi Simard and drummer Mili Hong.

September 25, 7 p.m., at Salle Claude-Léveillée, Place des Arts