Mommy Is at the Hairdresser's
Mommy Is at the Hairdresser's (French: Maman est chez le coiffeur) is a 2008 drama directed by Léa Pool.
| Mommy Is at the Hairdresser's Maman est chez le coiffeur | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Léa Pool |
| Produced by | Lyse Lafontaine Michel Mosca |
| Written by | Isabelle Hébert |
| Starring | Marianne Fortier Élie Dupuis Céline Bonnier Hugo St-Onge-Paquin Laurent Lucas Gabriel Arcand Benjamin Chouinard Antoine Desrochers Lenie Scoffié Paule Ducharme |
| Music by | Laurent Eyquem |
| Distributed by | Equinoxe Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | French |
| Budget | 4,35 million |
Synopsis
The film takes place in the summer of 1966, in Beloeil, Québec, where a young girl named Élise is enjoying summer vacation. Suddenly her mother leaves her family to pursue her journalism career in London. Her urge to leave is triggered when she coincidentally listens in on a conversation between her husband and his male lover. In a society still entrenched by taboos on sexual orientation, the mother flees the situation, abandoning Élise and her two younger brothers behind, in their father's care.[1] It's then that Élise becomes more aware of the dreams, sorrows, and lies of the people closest to her. Her brother Coco stubbornly seeks refuge in constructing a supercar, and the youngest, Benoît, plummets deep into his own internal world, retreating ever-further in the furnace room of their house. Élise's father is simply overwhelmed by the situation, unable to govern the domestic realm as well as his wife, he lacks her tact when dealing with Benoît's disability. And so Élise decides to take the helm of her drifting family in an attempt to save their future. With support from the silent comfort her mentor Monsieur Mouche offers, a deaf-mute figurine maker, and the wonders of nature around her, Élise is on the verge of experiencing a summer unlike any other.[2]
Production
The movie's plot is the autobiographical work of its screenwriter, Lyse Lafontaine.[3] The director, Léa Pool, visits the theme of childhood, inspired by the colorful verses of Canadian poet Jacques Prévert.[4] She mentions in an interview for Le Devoir that Isabelle Hébert's loosely autobiographical script resonated with her own autobiographical movie, Emporte-moi. Her aim was to narrate the situation by using the logic and perspective of children, especially Élise, the eldest, who experiences the beginning of adolescence while trying to explain the events surrounding their mother's departure.[5] It was important for Pool to present the story of children longing for their mother genuinely, without vilifying the father's character, all the while avoiding mawkish scenes.[6] In order to better situate the story, set during the beginning of quebecan bourgeoisie, the movie's soundtrack features hits of the 1960s, including iconic songs by Joël Denis and Claude Léveillé.[7] In addition to the theme of coming of age, the plot also involves mental health and LGBT issues, making Mommy Is At the Hairdresser's the recipient of several viewer's choice awards during festival screenings.[8]
Release and awards
Following is a list of Mommy Is At The Hairdresser's festival screenings and awards[9]
- Toronto International Film Festival, September 2008
- San Sebastian Film Festival, September 2008
- Namur International Film Festival, September 2008
- Pusan International Film Festival, October 2008
- Stuttgart Tuebingen Film Festival, November 2008
- Vancouver Film Critics Circle, January 2009
- Best Actress in Canadian Film – Marianne Fortier
- Palm Springs International Film Festival, January 2009
- Soleure Festival des Journées de Soleure, January 2009
- Viewer's Choice Award
- Goteborg International Film Festival, January 2009
- Viewer's Choice Award
- Rotterdam International Film Festival, January 2009
- Cinequest, February 2009
- Festival International de Films de Femmes de Créteil, March 2009
- Cinéma Centre Skalvija, March 2009
- Kosmorama Trondheim International Film Festival, March 2009
- Museum of Modern Arts Festival, March 2009
- Guadalajara International Film Festival, March 2009
- Verzaubert Queer Film Festival, March 2009
- Philadelphia Film Festival, March 2009
- Soirée des Prix Jutra, March 2009
- Best Hairstyle – Martin Lapointe
- Most recognized picture outside Québec – Léa Pool
- Prix Génies, April 2009
- Nomination - Best female lead - Marianne Fortier
- Nomination - Best female co-star - Céline Bonnier
- Nomination - Best artistic direction - Patrice Bengle
- Nomination - Best costume design - Michèle Hamel
- Nomination - Best scene montage - Dominique Fortin
- Nomination - Best soundtrack - Laurent Eyquem
- RiverRun International Film Festival, April 2009
- Kansas City Film Festival, April 2009
- Newport Beach Film Festival, April 2009
- Torino International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, April 2009
- International Women’s Film Festival Dortmund, April 2009
- Seattle International Film Festival, May 2009
- Film Festival Zlin, May 2009
- Taipei Film Festival, June 2009
- Festival International Cinéma et Costumes de Moulins, June 2009
- Best Wardrobe – Michèle Hamel
- Stony Brook Film Festival, July 2009
- Lima Film Festival, August 2009
- Folkets Big Malmo, August 2009
- Vitrine Cinéma Québecois, September 2009
- Women’s Film Festival Brussels, September 2009
- Reykjavik International Film Festival, September 2009
- Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival, September 2009
- Warsaw International Film Festival, October 2009
- Tallgrass Film Festival, October 2009
- Festival Cine-Premières, November 2009
- Ljubjana Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, November 2009
- Festival du Film Français d’Albi, November 2009
- Swiss Film Festival, November 2009
- Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, November 2009
- La Havana Film Festival, December 2011
- Fête de la Francophonie, March 2012
- Francophonie Film Festival, March 2012
References
- Laurendeau, Francine. « Maman est chez le coiffeur : Tendresse et cruauté / Maman est chez le coiffeur Canada [Québec], 2007, 96 minutes. » Séquences, numéro 253, mars–avril 2008, p. 46–46.
- http://www.equinoxefilms.com/film.php?f=80&s=media%5B%5D
- Coulombe, Michel. "Maman Est Chez Le Coiffeur: Chronique Des Années 60." Radio-Canada.ca, Radio-Canada, 16 Jan. 2014, ici.radio-canada.ca/arts-spectacles/cinema/2008/05/02/002-maman-coiffeur-critique.asp.
- Nicoud, Anabelle. "Ma Mère Est Chez Le Coiffeur: Maman Est Partie... | Anabelle Nicoud | Nouvelles." La Presse, 5 Aug. 2007, www.lapresse.ca/cinema/nouvelles/201207/17/01-4555939-ma-mere-est-chez-le-coiffeur-maman-est-partie.php.
- Nicoud, Anabelle. "Ma Mère Est Chez Le Coiffeur: Maman Est Partie... | Anabelle Nicoud | Nouvelles." La Presse, 5 Aug. 2007, www.lapresse.ca/cinema/nouvelles/201207/17/01-4555939-ma-mere-est-chez-le-coiffeur-maman-est-partie.php.
- Laurendeau, Francine. « Léa Pool. » Séquences, numéro 253, mars–avril 2008, p. 47–47
- Laurendeau, Francine. « Maman est chez le coiffeur : Tendresse et cruauté / Maman est chez le coiffeur Canada [Québec], 2007, 96 minutes. » Séquences, numéro 253, mars–avril 2008, p. 46–46.
- "Lyse Lafontaine." Lyla Films, 23 Feb. 2015, www.lylafilms.com/lacompagnie/lyse-lafontaine/.
- "Lyse Lafontaine." Lyla Films, 23 Feb. 2015, www.lylafilms.com/lacompagnie/lyse-lafontaine/.