The brilliant third feature film by Quebecer Philippe Lesage, Like fireawarded at the most recent Berlin Festival, was released on Wednesday on 73 screens in France and has received extremely favorable reviews.
“After the remarkable The demons And GenesisPhilippe Lesage confirms that he is one of the best Canadian filmmakers,” writes The New Obs. “A major talent in Canadian cinema discovered with The demons (2015), Philippe Lesage orchestrates his closed-door setting with astonishing directorial virtuosity,” adds Point.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Director Philippe Lesage
“Quebecer Philippe Lesage achieves with Like fireawarded in February in Berlin (Grand Jury Prize in the generation section), his most accomplished film, displaying a dizzying talent in the direction of actors”, writes The world. “ Like fire is part of the tradition of Quebec cinema, very adept at bringing out truths and human nature in verbal jousts,” according to France Culture.
“Massacre game”
In Like fire, Paul Ahmarani plays a screenwriter who reunites with his old director friend (Arieh Worthalter) at his outfitter’s with his daughter, son and their friend. Tensions between these two former collaborators, one neurotic, the other with an oversized ego, quickly boil over as the teenagers experience their own romantic intrigues.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SHELLAC FILMS
Scene from the movie Like fire
“Arieh Worthalter and Paul Ahmarani fascinate with their improvisational talent,” notes Telerama. Alone Releasein the French daily press, has some reservations: “With this ambiguous game of massacre between friends in a chalet in the middle of nature, the Quebec filmmaker intrigues, but struggles to assume the comedy part of the film.”
Like fire is due to be released in Quebec on December 6.