Photos by Felix Grevenbrock

‘THE  DESCENDANT’

Cinema Du Parc 3575 ave. du Parc.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

26 & 27 sept. – 9pm
28 sept. au 2 oct.  – 5pm 

www.thedescendant.com    www.cinemaduparc.com

trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLR1jryT2Gg

After a successful North American festival tour, THE DESCENDANT will be having its theatrical premiere at Cinema du Parc from September 26th to October 2nd. This five-year labour of love by Montreal filmmaker Philippe Spurrell was made against all odds, entirely outside the usual government financed system. In that sense, it is a truly independent film production made with small amounts of private funding and some help from the NFB.

The process began in 2002 when Spurrell saw an unusual CBC television report hosted by Gregory Charles. This shocking yet hidden part of Quebec history inspired the writer-director to create a 95 minute feature shot on 35mm film in the region of Lacolle Quebec. The result is a beautifully filmed work containing a powerful soundtrack and a surprise ending that will leave audiences here stunned by an unexpected part of our heritage.

 The film was executive produced by Philippe Chabot who, along with actor David Lahaye, runs AVIVA Communications based in Montreal. Music is by David Kristian, responsible for the soundtracks of many genre features in the last few years including LA BELLE BETE, THE ABANDONED and SISTERS. Effects make up was done by CJ Goldman (300, DAWN OF THE DEAD 2004, AURORE).

FESTIVALS: Philadelphia International – (Winner: Best Feature Film), Fantasia, Calgary International, Northampton Independent- U.S.A, Austin International -Texas, Rendez-Vous du cinema Quebecois, Fargo International – North Dakota, Film Columbia –New York, Bay Street Film Fest – Ontario.

Producer Writer Director: Philippe Spurrell       

Co-Writer: Joel A. Miller
Executive Producer: Philippe Chabot    Co-Producer: David Rigby (UK)
Cinematographers: Lorenzo Negri & Ivan Gekoff(CSC)    Editor: Eric Lavoie    Composer: David Kristian
Production Design: Patricia McNeil    Sound design: Dan Lagace
Starring: Tadhg MacMahon, Jim Reid, Ilona Garcen, Rose Ryan, Rob Diloreto, Zeny Domond
Synopsis -
A year after his mother passes away, James Duke contemplates doing the one thing she had always forbidden him to do; contact her parents. With temptation too great, the young man visits his grandparents and discovers that although friendly, they are very nervous about his surprise visit. Deciding to stay on for a few days at their eerie run down secluded farmhouse, he gradually uncovers an unspeakably shameful part of his family history that his mother had never revealed. Carefully watched by menacing townspeople, he digs dangerously deep to uncover clues to his disturbing past; old gramophone recordings, disturbing b&w photos, animal (human?) remains and a very unusual patchwork quilt made by tortured hands. Ultimately, he confronts both conspiracy and the heavy burden of truth through his discovery of ghosts from the past.

SCREENING ONE WEEK ONLY ….  SO PLEASE DON’T MISS IT!

What does Champlain Motion Pictures do when it is between films and looking for a way to spend a surprisingly nice Tuesday afternoon?  It plays with shopping carts, of course!

Stay tuned to this season of Late Night Saturday to see what this is all about.