Archive of films Mars & Avril / Mars et Avril

Canada
2012, 90 min

Section: Another View
Year: 2012

Martin Villeneuve set his debut Mars & Avril in a Montreal of the future and based it on motifs from two photo romances. This original cosmic spectacle combines the themes of art, spirituality, inventiveness, and love – and offers a special treat: Robert Lepage, one of Canada’s foremost filmmakers, returns to the silver screen as a hologram.

Synopsis

Mars & Avril is probably the first Québécois film to be adapted from two graphic novels. It is set in a futuristic Montreal where humanity is preparing to set foot on the planet Mars. The charismatic musician Jacob plays on musical instruments inspired by the female form and designed by his best friend Arthur. Both men fall in love with Avril, a young photographer who has problems with her breathing. This original cosmic fairy tale brings together the themes of art, spirituality, the world of inventions, and love; and it’s here that distinguished Canadian filmmaker Robert Lepage returns to the silver screen – as a hologram. This remarkable film debut by talented director Martin Villeneuve will enchant viewers with its visual sheen and may certainly be considered one of the most fascinating "intimate sci-fi films” in recent years.

About the director

Martin Villeneuve (b. 1978, Trois-Rivières, Canada) studied film in Montreal at Concordia University, and graphic design at Quebec University. In 2002 he received a grant from the Sid Lee Agency and, over the following three years, he worked for the agency as an artistic director, in particular, for Cirque du Soleil. From 2005 he worked as a free-lancer, making a series of commercials. He is the author of both parts of the graphic novel Mars & Avril (2002, 2006) and the comic book La voix du tonnerre (2004), which enjoyed huge critical acclaim and won many awards. In 2012, as producer, screenwriter and director, he completed work on his feature film debut Mars & Avril which is being screened in Karlovy Vary in its world premiere.

Contacts

EMAfilms
8592 Foucher, H2P 2C5, Montreal
Canada
Tel: +1 514 523 993 3
Fax: +1 514 523 990 0
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.emafilms.com

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About the film

Color, DCP
World premiere

Section:	Another View

Director:	Martin Villeneuve
Screenplay:	Martin Villeneuve
Dir. of Photography:	Benoît Beaulieu
Music:	Benoît Charest
Editor:	Mathieu Demers
Producer:	Anne-Marie Gélinas, Benoît Beaulieu, Martin Villeneuve
Production:	EMAfilms
Cast:	Jacques Languirand, Caroline Dhavernas, Paul Ahmarani, Robert Lepage
Contact:	EMAfilms

www:	www.emafilms.com/tfi_film/mars-et-avril/

Guests

Martin Villeneuve

Film Director

Caroline Dhavernas

Actress

Anne-Marie Gélinas

Producer

Jacques Languirand

Actor

Benoit Beaulieu

Producer