North of Albany | Why flee?

In North of Albany, Marianne Farley’s first feature film as a director, Céline Bonnier plays a mother who flees Montreal for the United States on a whim to protect her daughter – played by Zeneb Blanchet – who has made a serious gesture. Interview with the craftsmen of the family drama with the atmosphere of thriller and of road movie.

Finding herself alone with her two children in a remote New England village after a car breakdown? It really happened to Marianne Farley and this is the plot behindNorth of Albanywhich will hit our screens on December 2.

“It was such an absurd situation. It had to be used for something, ”says the one who co-signed the screenplay for her first feature film with her companion at the time, Claude Brie. “The idea of ​​being caught in the village was interesting from a narrative point of view. But it had to be because of a leak…”

The flight to the heart ofNorth of Albany turns out to be that of the character of Annie (Céline Bonnier) who decides on a whim to leave Montreal to go and take refuge with the father of her eldest daughter in Florida, because the latter has made a serious gesture which she does not is not fully responsible (we quickly learn in the film that she is being bullied).

Annie and her children have barely made it to the Adirondacks region when their car breaks down. The mechanic, Paul (Rick Roberts), cannot immediately replace the part to be repaired, so Annie and her children must rent a room in a filthy motel. During their unexpected stay, they will bond with Paul’s family, who is also haunted by a troubled past.

A bilingual film

Rare are the Quebec films that take place in a North American setting with English-speaking protagonists. This went without saying for Marianne Farley, who comes from a bilingual family. For her, it was even rich to bring together French and English clans.

“It lent itself to the theme of the incommunicability of the film and that of the complexity of relationships when you have different experiences. Ultimately, the film says that we all have common sufferings in which we end up connecting, ”she explains.

The filmmaker wanted to entrust the role of Annie to Céline Bonnier and a two-hour conversation on a park bench was enough to convince the actress. For Paul’s, she had Canadian actor Rick Roberts in mind. “He played my husband in the English adaptation of New address, recalls Marianne Farley. Rick is a super generous actor. He has a very touching vulnerability and I saw him with Céline. »

“Céline has both strength of character and great sensitivity,” continues the director. I knew I could go far with her for a tough character who is defensive, in pain, and makes irrational decisions. »

In the series A criminal case, Céline Bonnier also embodies a mother ready to do anything to defend her children, but Annie is much less expressive. “Annie holds things back,” she says.

A difficult shoot

The filming ofNorth of Albany took place in the fall of 2020 when sanitary measures were the strictest. “It was difficult, remembers Céline Bonnier. The first day of filming was on the side of a highway. It was raining and it was cold. I remember people were masked and dressed in black. »

Fortunately, Zeneb Blanchet was roommates with Kelly Depeault, with whom she had starred in The goddess of fireflies. They were seen as “in the same bubble”, which facilitated the intense scenes of intimidation they had to play.

“It was a great opportunity to be able to work with both of them. They had an ease that perhaps allowed them to go further,” underlines Marianne Farley.

Céline Bonnier praises the talent and personality of Zeneb Blanchet, who has multiplied roles on television, notably in All the life and Audrey came back. “She’s an intelligent, awake woman…”

Come to think of it, continues Céline Bonnier without however generalizing, her character and that of her daughter perhaps demonstrate to what extent the younger generation “is more frontal and assumed” while hers is perhaps more in the flight… .

As for the character of the little brother played by Eliott Plamondon, he brings candor to the film. “I’m here to undo conflicts,” says the main interested party. “He is the little bubble of oxygen”, adds the one who plays her mother.

All the actors underline the rigor of Marianne Farley behind the camera despite the modest budget of the film. The multiple takes were demanding, but beneficial, emphasizes Zeneb Blanchet. “From one scene to another, I could explore and I appreciated that for my first role in the cinema, also loaded with emotions. »

“At the very end of the film, there is a scene that I found magical to shoot,” continues the 19-year-old actress. I felt the energy shared with Celine. It was a moment of light and release for the characters. »

We confirm that this scene is powerful. You can see it in theaters from December 2.