In addition to conquering the theater, television, opera and literature, Michel Tremblay has written for the cinema. Here are four of his most glorious exploits, a few days before the release of Our sisters-in-lawa musical film by René Richard Cyr inspired by his famous play.
Françoise Durocher, waitress (1972)
Played by 24 actresses and 1 actor, Françoise Durocher is a waitress, a waitress, waitressbarmaid and hostess. Although they all have the same name, some evoke key characters from the work of the great playwright, including Thérèse (the moving Luce Guilbault), who is fond of the bottle, and Pierrette Guérin (the heartbreaking Michelle Rossignol), abandoned by her buddy Johnny. Dedicated to “all the waitress fines du Québec”, this 29-minute choral short film, by turns funny, corrosive and cruel, is the first foray into cinema by André Brassard, screenwriter and director, and Michel Tremblay, dialogist.
Available at onf.ca
Once Upon a Time in the East (1974)
A stellar cast delivers colorful performances in this first feature film from the Tremblay-Brassard duo. On the Plateau side, Germaine Lauzon (Manda Parent) has just won 1 million prize stamps. On the Plateau side HandHosanna (Jean Archambault) is about to impress with her Cleopatra costume at the drag cabaret. In this stunning mosaic of Tremblay’s plays, jealousy, betrayal and despair will soon shatter the dreams of this picturesque fauna where Hélène (Denise Filiatrault), Pierrette (Michelle Rossignol) and Bec de Lièvre (Amulette Garneau) evolve.
Available on Elephant, Videotron and AppleTV
The sun rises late (1977)
An iconic actress in Tremblay’s universe, the great Rita Lafontaine sensitively embodies a modest single secretary in her thirties who, encouraged by her sister, played with panache by the essential Denise Filiatrault, signs up for a dating agency. Enter comedian Yvon Deschamps, totally touching as a shy and awkward old bachelor. Lulled by the music of Beau Dommage, set in the Rosemont district, this bittersweet dramatic comedy by André Brassard and Michel Tremblay moves away from the fury and excess of their previous feature film. Tender and tragic at the same time.
Available on Elephant and AppleTV
Tell us about love (1976)
The darling of the female audience that he despises, Jeannot (Jacques Boulanger) is fed up with the shenanigans that go on behind the scenes of his show, even though he makes some money from it. Directed by Jean-Claude Lord, who wrote the screenplay with Michel Tremblay, this audacious drama of manners delivers a very scathing portrait of the artistic world, some aspects of which remain, alas!, not so far from today’s reality. A popular host and singer at the time, Jacques Boulanger almost lost his career for having taken on an unflattering role with courage and conviction.
Available on Elephant, Videotron and AppleTV