The world of Quebec cinema has lost in Jean-Marc Vallée an immensely talented filmmaker who has proven to directors here that by believing in your dreams, it is possible to work with the big names in Hollywood.
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For Denis Villeneuve, who set foot in the United States a few years after Jean-Marc Vallée, his friend was a precious ally in his Hollywood adventure.
“I was walking in parallel, a little behind him. Jean-Marc led the way. He was the person I could really talk to because he was going through the same thing. He was the only person who understood. Our intimacy has developed like that, ”says the Quebec director.
“He has succeeded in making Quebec filmmakers dream,” says artistic director Patrice Vermette of the one with whom he notably shot films. CRAZY and The Young Victoria.
Besides Denis Villeneuve, filmmakers like Philippe Falardeau and Ken Scott have followed in Jean-Marc Vallée’s footsteps in the United States.
A lucky star
“He has shown that it is worth pushing. It made us want to go further, to tell us that we were not just born for a bun, that our cinema is beautiful and can travel, ”praises Patrice Vermette.
The international careers of Quebec artists were launched thanks to Jean-Marc Vallée. This is the case of pianist Alexandra Stréliski. The filmmaker had used his compositions in Dallas Buyers Club, Demolition and Big Little Lies.
“He categorically refused that I say it, but it is to him that I owe my career. At least he was certainly the spark plug, ”she shared on Facebook of the one she described as her“ lucky star ”.
After crossing paths with Jean-Marc Vallée, Patrice Vermette has been cited twice at the Oscars.
“Without Jean-Marc, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It’s a big, big, big loss for me. “
” A big brother “
Jean-Marc Vallée was also a gang guy, who had founded a club of Quebec directors, remembers Denis Villeneuve.
“We took turns welcoming the gang, we ate, we watched a movie and we discussed. It was a pretext to see each other because it’s a very lonely job. He created a small community. We got together and, over the years, strong friendships were born ”, says the director of Dune, who believes that Jean-Marc Vallée will be missed by many people.
“He was a big brother to a lot of people in the cinema. “
An unfinished work
Jean-Marc Vallée was struck down by death when, at 58, he still had several good films to shoot, his friends lament.
“The worst part is the films that will be missed. It was not finished, Jean-Marc had left to make us more masterpieces ”, shares Michel Côté, who had marked the spirits by playing the father refusing to admit the homosexuality of his son in CRAZY
Denis Villeneuve gives as an example the film project on John Lennon and Yoko Ono, to which Jean-Marc Vallée has devoted a lot of energy in recent years.
“He was the perfect artist to bring this relationship to the screen. I have good intuitions, sometimes in life, and I told myself that this was his next masterpiece, ”says his friend.
Dads moved
Michel Côté also wanted to point out that the films of the Quebec filmmaker have helped transform society.
“When promoting CRAZY, we toured Quebec and I could not count the number of dads who came to pick us up in [leurs] arms and said to us: “Tomorrow morning, I have a very important phone to make with my homosexual son to whom I have not spoken for 12 years”. It meant that the film achieved its goal. “
Quebecers remember
“It’s absurd, he’s the one who showed me everything, he’s the one who gave me my first chance at the cinema. His work is immense, I have so much pain. “
– Geneviève Brouillette
“Listen to his films, soak up his courage, his authenticity, his sensitivity and also his humor and his joie de vivre. “
– Kevin Parent
“Jean-Marc Vallée moved me to CRAZY at Big Little Lies. He was extremely kind. “
– Francois Legault
“Goodbye, great man! “
– Hélène Florent
“I prefer to live in denial and imagine myself Jean-Marc Vallée somewhere on the planet looking for a rental. “
– Jean-Nicolas Verreault
” I am in shock. It is very sad. My thoughts are with his loved ones. Rest in peace, dear Jean-Marc! “
– Carole Laure