Gabrielle (2013 film)

Gabrielle is a 2013 Canadian drama film directed by Louise Archambault and starring Gabrielle Marion-Rivard as Gabrielle, a young woman with Williams syndrome who participates in a choir of developmentally disabled adults, and begins a romantic relationship with her choirmate Martin (Alexandre Landry). It features a cast from a real choir for people with disabilities, with Marion-Rivard being an actress who actually has Williams syndrome.

Gabrielle
Film poster
Directed byLouise Archambault
Written byLouise Archambault
Produced byKim McCraw
Luc Déry
Starring
CinematographyMathieu Laverdière
Edited byRichard Comeau
Release dates
  • 12 August 2013 (2013-08-12) (Locarno)
  • 9 September 2013 (2013-09-09) (TIFF)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageFrench

The film premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival on 12 August 2013. It garnered six Canadian Screen Awards nominations and won two, including Best Motion Picture.

Plot

In Montreal, Gabrielle is a 22-year-old woman with Williams syndrome and diabetes, handling her own insulin injections but not living independently. She is a member of The Muses of Montreal, a musical choir for people with disabilities, at the Recreational Centre, and meets a fellow singer named Martin, with whom she develops a relationship. Her sister, Sophie, is attempting to arrange travel to meet with her boyfriend in India, but is unwilling to leave Gabrielle behind. One night, Gabrielle and Martin are caught engaging in sexual conduct publicly in the centre. Sophie and Martin's mother are called to the centre to address the matter. Sophie defends Gabrielle and Martin's right to have sex in private, as they are in love and she feels they should be able to, as adults. Sophie also asserts Gabrielle has been educated in safe sex. Martin's mother is angry at the notion, saying Martin is a virgin and that sex is different for people with disabilities. Gabrielle and Martin no longer see each other at the centre.

Gabrielle expresses frustration with her lack of autonomy to Sophie. Sophie wishes to see proof Gabrielle can live autonomously, warning her that having her own apartment will not bring Martin back. Gabrielle spends a day alone in the apartment, setting off the fire alarm with burnt toast, but when Sophie returns she is more concerned to see how Gabrielle has handled her diabetes. At the centre, Gabrielle mourns Martin's absence while The Muses prepare for a concert with Robert Charlebois. Sophie is finally persuaded to travel to India, though this means she will miss the concert. On the day of the concert, Martin and Gabrielle have sex before performing.

Cast
Director Louise Archambault with stars Gabrielle Marion-Rivard and Alexandre Landry.

Production

Director Louise Archambault said the story was inspired by an intellectually disabled neighbour who shared a swimming pool with her, and required help in the change room. Archambault said her neighbour had a "strong personality."[1] The filmmakers drew the cast of the film from a real life choir for people with disabilities in Montreal, including star Gabrielle Marion-Rivard, who has Williams syndrome and sang in Les Muses.[2][3] Archambault said, "They have personalities— a lot of personality— and I did learn a lot."[2] The choir lead's performance of "Ordinaire" by Robert Charlebois, and the parallel between the lyrics and Archambault's screenplay, moved her to appeal to Charlebois to be in the film.[4] The filmmakers had to train some of the actors with disabilities to not look at the camera during their performances.[5]

The filmmakers also sought a man with disabilities to play Martin, but did not feel they could find someone to portray a believable romance with Marion-Rivard, and cast experienced actor Alexandre Landry.[1] Marion-Rivard was anxious about the sex scenes, but credited Landry with making her comfortable.[5]

The film addresses the controversial issue of sexuality and disability.[2] Archambault consulted with producers and financiers on how to portray this in an acceptable way.[1]

Release

The film was first shown at the Locarno International Film Festival on 12 August 2013,[6] where Archambault and Marion-Rivard said it received great applause.[5][7] It was screened in the Special Presentation section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.[8]

The film opened in Toronto and Ottawa on 10 January 2014. This was followed by screenings in Edmonton on 17 January and Vancouver and Winnipeg on 24 January.[2] Entertainment One sold distribution to Haut et Court for France and to Agora Film for Switzerland.[3] Entertainment One also planned in October 2013 to release it in the United States.[9]

Reception

Critical reception

In Canada, The Globe and Mail's Liam Lacey gave the film three stars, calling it "a big-hearted drama" though lacking subtlety.[10] Marc-André Lussier praised the film in La Presse as real and vibrant.[11] Peter Howell of The Toronto Star gave the film three stars, writing "Gabrielle reminds us, through love and music, that perception is not reality and that prejudice is an attitude, not a truth."[12]

Stephen Holden gave the film a positive review in The New York Times, saying Marion-Rivard saved the film from becoming condescending.[13] Jay Weissberg, writing for Variety, called the film "uplifting," and said it was particularly great for its handling of sex and people with disabilities.[14] Betsy Sharkey of The Los Angeles Times wrote Marion-Rivard gave the film credibility and it was difficult to deny the enjoyment of the experience.[15] The film has a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 22 reviews.[16]

Accolades

The film was selected as the Canadian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards,[17][18] but it was not nominated.[19] It was also a finalist for Best Canadian Film at the Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2013, alongside The Dirties and the eventual winner, Watermark.[20]

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Canadian Screen Awards 9 March 2014 Best Motion Picture Kim McCraw and Luc Déry Won [21]
Best Actress Gabrielle Marion-Rivard Won
Best Supporting Actor Alexandre Landry Nominated [22]
Best Editing Richard Comeau Nominated
Best Sound Bernard Gariépy Strobl and Pierre Bertrand Nominated
Best Sound Editing Sylvain Bellemare Nominated
Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur October 2013 Audience Award Louise Archambault Won [23]
Gijón International Film Festival 2014 Best Actor Alexandre Landry Won [24]
Jutra Awards 23 March 2014 Best Film Kim McCraw, Luc Déry and micro-scope Nominated [19][25]
Best Direction Louise Archambault Won
Best Screenplay Won
Best Actor Alexandre Landry Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Vincent-Guillaume Otis Nominated
Benoît Gouin Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin Won
Best Editing Richard Comeau Won
Best Sound Sylvain Bellemare, Bernard Gariépy Strobl and Pierre Bertrand Nominated
Best International Motion Picture Kim McCraw and Luc Déry Won
Locarno International Film Festival 2013 Audience Award Louise Archambault Won [14]
Lumières Awards 20 January 2014 Best French-Language Film Nominated [26]
Vancouver Film Critics Circle January 2014 Best Canadian Film Nominated [27]
Best Director of a Canadian Film Nominated
Best Supporting Actor in a Canadian Film Alexandre Landry Won
Prix collégial du cinéma québécois 2014 Best Film Gabrielle Nominated [28]

See also

References
  1. Aguilar, Carlos (3 July 2014). "Interview: Louise Archambault on her film 'Gabrielle'". Indiewire. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  2. "Gabrielle: coming-of-age search for love and freedom". CBC News. 10 January 2014. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014.
  3. "Buyers adopt Gabrielle from eOne". Screen Daily. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  4. Slotek, Jim (9 January 2014). "More than ordinary". The Toronto Sun. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  5. Tremblay, Odile (14 September 2013). "Incandescente Gabrielle!". Le Devoir. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  6. Vivarelli, Nick (6 August 2013). "Locarno Film Festival's New Topper Carlo Chatrian Raises the Stakes". Variety. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  7. Tremblay, Odile (14 August 2013). "Gabrielle a conquis des milliers de spectateurs au Festival de Locarno". Le Devoir. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  8. "Gabrielle". TIFF. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  9. "Gabrielle distribué aux États-Unis". Le Devoir. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  10. Lacey, Liam (10 January 2014). "Gabrielle: Canadian Oscar contender hits the right notes". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  11. Lussier, Marc-André (19 September 2013). "Gabrielle : un hymne vibrant". La Presse (in French). Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  12. Howell, Peter (9 January 2014). "In Gabrielle, love and music define true meaning of 'normal': review". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  13. Holden, Stephen (3 July 2014). "Intoxicated By a World She Is Struggling to Own". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  14. Weissberg, Jay (20 August 2013). "Locarno Film Review: 'Gabrielle'". Variety. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  15. Sharkey, Betsy (3 July 2014). "'Gabrielle' tale of first love is hard to resist". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  16. "Gabrielle (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  17. "Gabrielle gets Canada's Oscar selection for best foreign film". The Canadian Press. 24 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  18. Vlessing, Etan (24 September 2013). "Oscars: Canada Names 'Gabrielle' As Foreign Language Contender". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  19. "Jutra : Louis Cyr mène avec 11 nominations, Gabrielle suit avec 9". Radio-Canada (in French). 27 January 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  20. Szklarski, Cassandra (7 January 2014). "Critics name Baichwal documentary 'Watermark' best Canadian film". CTV News.
  21. "'Orphan Black,' 'Gabrielle' big winners at Canadian Screen Awards". CTV News. 9 March 2014.
  22. "Canadian Screen Awards: Orphan Black, Less Than Kind, Enemy nominated". CBC News. 13 January 2014.
  23. ""Gabrielle" lauréat du Prix du public à Namur". Le Journal de Montréal (in French). 4 October 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  24. "Chinook films return". Cochrane Eagle. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  25. Moreault, Éric (23 March 2014). "16e Soirée des Jutra: Louis Cyr terrasse la compétition". La Presse (in French). Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  26. "Prix et nominations : Lumières de la presse étrangère 2014". AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  27. Lederman, Marsha (8 January 2014). "Vancouver Film Critics Circle names 12 Years a Slave best film of 2013". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  28. Charles-Henri Ramond, "Denis Côté remporte le Prix collégial du cinéma québécois". Films du Québec, March 22, 2014.
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