Genesis (Philippe Lesage): Canada

Film reviewed by Michael Wynne. Viewed at 2018 AFI fest.

Director Philippe Lesage writes and directs this unique story on modern day teenage love. It tells the stories of Guillaume and Charlotte, a brother and sister at a strange point in their lives. Guillaume is in his final year at a preppy boarding school, and Charlotte is in her first year of college. Charlotte wants free from a now boring relationship with her high school boyfriend and seeks more fun lovers. She goes down a path that leads to unforgettable moments as she bites off more than she can chew in the real world. Guillaume is experiencing difficulty with woman and begins to find a different meaning to the word attractive. The two siblings stories parallel one another as there paths ultimately lead in them finding comfort in one another.

From top to bottom the film checks all boxes. Directing, screenplay, acting, cinematography, symbolism, etc. I found the film to be powerful. Theodore Pellerin did an outstanding job as Guillaume, he has won best actor at the Montréal Festival of New Cinema and the Valladolid International Film Festival for his performance in this film. His characters story had the most layers to it and was very heartbreaking to see him be cast away for being brave. Noee Abita who plays Charlotte delivers a good performance as well, although her character makes you want to smack yourself in the face because she is so naïve. Her convoluted path leads her to a consequence she did not deserve, and will leave you stunned.

The film touches you, especially me being a young adult. I know people that have beat for beat, experienced the same tragedies as Guillaume and Charlotte. The film is a roller coaster of emotions and at the pinnacle moment in the film it fades black and cuts to a whole new story… Wait, huh?

Yes! After the most important scene in the story, the film cuts black and fades into a completely new story for the last thirty minutes of the film. I was completely disengaged after that. I looked around the theater and the audience was as confused as I was. Not only was it strange that the story of Guillaume and Charlotte was cut short, it was just stupid! The following story was boring and had terrible acting. It was the exact opposite of what the whole story was prior. After the film I stood up and asked people around me, “what happened?”

It still troubles me, I wonder what went through Lesage’s brain as he wrote a powerful, honest, one hour and forty five minute story to just smack it in the face and ruin it. Phillipe Lesage has a lot of potential as a filmmaker, but cannot do something so unnecessary that kills the whole experience of the film. I give the first story a 9/10.

But the second story is a strong -5/10.