Tired of being summoned to the same casting atypical where they inevitably found themselves in competition, Debbie Lynch-White, Olivia Palacci, Julie de Lafrenière and Sarah Desjeunes Rico had the idea, 11 years ago, of a series where they would play the main roles together, The gorgeousa working title that was to become Bombs. On July 12, 2019, there they are in the office of Sophie Deschênes, of Sovimage productions, in pitch their characters struggling with addiction.
“I had an instant crush, says the producer during a press briefing following the presentation of the first two of the six one-hour episodes of Bombs. I thought it was bold and bright. I thought the idea was the fun to treat this subject in dramatic comedy, because addiction can be heavy. »
All that remained was to find an author experienced in dramatic comedy, Kim Lévesque-Lizotte, and a director with a sensitive gaze, Pascal L’Heureux. “What I found really beautiful and which gave meaning to all that, was to see four fat girls who take charge of their destiny and their career, continues the author frontally. My mission was to breathe depth into these characters, which they built and to which they attributed an addiction, so that these actresses could play something other than what they are usually offered, either the best friend or the comic relief. »
“I’ve been doing mostly pure comedy for a long time, it was the first time I made one-hour episodes, recalls the director, but I think I saw the bridge between the two. In Kim’s text, there were plenty of bright moments, where we play down, so instinctively, I suggested that the visual add to what they live inside so as not to always name the cases, that the camera heals them a little bit, that the music of Philippe Brault and the aesthetics are benevolent towards them. »
Based on the experience of fishermen, Pascal L’Heureux felt like a fish in water during the five-week shoot at Orford Musique, where Philippe Brault composed a large part of the soundtrack: “To find yourself in such a place with all the team and all the actors, it changes the situation, the early mornings, the end of the day. For a director, it’s a gift. In comedy, there are rules to respect, but the cinematographic aspect of the series allowed a certain freedom. I was told to follow my instincts, I was like in a candy store. »
The filming having been a wonderful experience for the four actresses, they have become real friends in life. “Feminine solidarity is not just having girls’ dinners, says Kim Lévesque-Lizotte, there is really something proactive that happened in there. »
Four girls facing their destiny
From February 2, subscribers to Séries Plus will get to know Claudine (Debbie Lynch-White), sexual; Juliette (Olivia Palacci), compulsive gambler; Emma (Julie de Lafrenière), who has several fake profiles on social networks; and Vicky (Sarah Desjeunes Rico), addicted to pills. All four will have to share a room during the 21 days that their therapy will last at the Catharsis center, where they are welcomed by two doctors (Lise Roy and Pier Paquette), a psychotherapist (Jean-Nicolas Verreault) and a psychologist specializing in art therapy (Francesca Barcenas ).
What I thought was really beautiful and made sense of it all was seeing four fat girls taking charge of their destiny and their careers
Around the four endearing heroines evolve Jacynthe (Laetitia Isambert), who suffers from orthorexia; Étienne (Félix-Antoine Duval), who has OCD; and Grégoire (Jean-François Mercier), who doesn’t like to talk about his emotions. Have no fear for the patients of the center, there will be no guru or serial murderer in the lot, nor will there be drugs served without their knowledge at breakfast. Short, Bombs Has nothing to do with Nine Perfect StrangersAmerican miniseries starring Nicole Kidman.
“When I talk about Bombs, I find it vulnerabilising. We are in the emotion, in their quest, in the psychological and in the benevolence. With Bombs, I already had a structure, but then I felt so free; I think I’ve never written with so much instinct, sensitivity and vulnerability. I was able to try things that I wouldn’t have done before, and everyone followed me in that,” concludes Kim Lévesque-Lizotte.