Matt Shea
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C.R.A.Z.Y. - Film Review
September 15th 2006 00:40
I didn't have a chance to see it at the Sydney Film Festival, so I was nearly running down Oxford street to the Verona Theatre when I heard it was playing.
It's good to see that Annette's taste in movies is unerringly accurate. C.R.A.Z.Y. is the finest film to come out of Quebec since Les Invasions Barbares, which won big-ups at Cannes.
In a similar vein, C.R.A.Z.Y. is also about the tumultuous relationship between a father and his sons...what sets this film apart is that one of the sons is obviously gay, and in 1960s Quebec, where the film starts, the heavily Catholic culture was exceedingly intolerant. Zak, the gay son, faces the torment of accepting his homosexuality in a culture that has no place for it.
At this point in time, Quebecois culture was rebelling against the strict rule of the Catholic church in their private lives, eventually the Quiet Revolution would secularize the state. The father in the film hints at it:
"I'm beginning to wonder why we pray to a long-haired guy who wears robes and hangs around with other guys in robes!" he yells to his wife as he's forced to consider that his son is a homosexual.
Quebec is a wild, wonderful province in Canada, with maple syrup running from the taps, and black bears selling meat pies on the side of the road. The French dialect spoken in Quebec would likely be laughed at by the French, and would be derisively snorted at by Parisiens.
But in this movie, the language adds a pure level of sincerity, and adds greatly to the emotions running throughout - much like a New York accent in Scorcese flicks.
'Aw, christ-chalice!' yells the father, using unique Quebecois swear words.
I was enraptured for the entire two-and-a-half-hours... Director Jean-Marc Vallee has put together a seemless look into a family that tries to stand on the back of the father... we watch as the father transcends from the everyman hero to strict disciplinarian to aging memory of strength lost.
The father, played impeccably by Michel Cote, is so predictable... he buys his flaming gay son a tabletop hockey game, hoping that would push him to being a real boy, but the son would rather push the baby stroller and wear earrings. He's relieved when a girl comes over to visit his son, and is happy when his Zak gets in a fight.
Music plays a huge part in the film, and the filmmakers went to considerable expense to acquire the rights for period pieces from Patsy Cline, David Bowie and Pink Floyd... the characters in the film worship the music more than Jesus, who sits inanimately on the wall, whereas Bowie injects Zak with far more spirituality than Mass ever could.
Regardless of the Quebecois culture, this film is about a father and his sons. If you have a father, it's hard to imagine that you won't be moved by C.R.A.Z.Y. Zak wants nothing more than to please his father, even when he's, strangely enough, trekking through Jerusalem... he'll even pretend to be straight, just to get that smile of acceptance and the slap on the shoulders. But to deny himself would be the same as selling his soul to a businessman with cloven feet and a pitchfork.
I say: Outstanding on all levels. This film is making waves in Canada, and every minute was enjoyable for me.
See it for: A fantastic performance by Marc-Andre Grondin, who plays Zak, and when he's singing to Bowie, looks a lot like Val Kilmer.
The filmmakers did an amazing job of replicating the look of Quebec in 60s and 70s - or at least, what I imagine it to look like, from photographs...
* these images were taken from the iMDb page on C.R.A.Z.Y.
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Comment by Ahmed
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What i don't understand is the boy, why doesn't he if he loves his father so much, do as his father asks?
Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by Cibbuano
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Well, the movie goes on that trail, too. Zak tries very hard to be a straight guy that likes manly things. But how can you deny what you are?
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Comment by JohnDoe
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C.R.A.Z.Y has been on my list of must sees for a while. havent got around to see it yet. definetly going to try and catch it on the bigscreen.
Are you Canadian Cib? I am a big fan of the cinema that comes outr of there (eg: Kissed, WayDownTown, Sweet Hereafter, Cube etc)
Comment by Cibbuano
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I am Canadian, though I haven't lived in Canada for several years, so I'm out of touch with the films that come out of there... plus, I'm partial to the French movies...
Comment by JohnDoe
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Although born and raised in Australia the only country I ever felt at home in was Canada.
I lived there for a year and a half and plan to move back permanetly in a few years.
The quality cinema that comes out of their is also a big drawing card for this future filmmaker
Comment by Cibbuano
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Where did you live? East or West? Vancouver, right?
Comment by JohnDoe
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I grew up on the beaches and love the water, but love snowboarding even more.
You are going to laugh but the first year I lived in Calgary, Alberta and loved it. Just so different from what Id experineced up till then. Its got real life cowboys and everything. Stampede was something truly unique.
Then ofcourse I predictably went to Vancouver and hung out in Whistler for a while.
Just something about the crisp mountain air and the view of snowcapped mountains that gets my creative juices flowing. Like nothing else Ive ever experienced. The landscape was my muse.
Im also allergic to the air in Australia it seems, all the pollens and shit give me chronic asthma. All my life Ive suffered from it, (puffer and preventer twice daily)after 6 months in Canada I didnt even need to use my puffer once.
It wasnt till the plane was landing back in Sydney I had my first attack in over 12 months. And thats just one of the many allergic ailments that dissappeared in the land of the maple leaf.
I really want to see Quebec and Ontario next time, the people I met were amzingly kind and more than once I was helped out of jam by the kindness of strangers.
As for Tim Tams, yeah Im an addict but a canadian buddy of mine recently told me that you can get them in North America now.
Besides, I miss real Reeses Pieces and hot melted butter on my popcorn.
Comment by JohnDoe
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She might even love the place more than me.
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Comment by Anonymous
I watch cinematic films shown here every Monday nights. I wonder if you've seen this french movie titled 'Talk To Her". Guess it's an old one.
Anyways, great review there.
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There.
Comment by Tracy
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I haven't seen it either but I want to, I've heard it is very good.
Comment by Cibbuano
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john, you lived in calgary? I'm originally from Edmonton. Did you see the Flames play?
anonymous, I know that Almodovar movie 'Talk to Her'... it's a great movie, too. I was a little shocked at one point, but I get a kick out of Almodovar films... they push you to your uncomfortable points...
Comment by JohnDoe
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Loved Calagary, made a lot of close friends there and formed many great memories.
Bloody cold when it (-50) with wind chill, but even that made it exciting. So different from Australia. Like being on another planet, i love that stuff.
Comment by Tracy
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I saw Talk to Her today. I'm a bit disappointed in myself as I had seen it before but didn't really remember it well until the dream-like-scene. I can only put it down to watching it at one of those times in my life where I had a lot going on and the film didn't stay in my long-term memory bank.
I won't forget it this time though, gosh, what a good film it is. Like you said, Almodovar films really do push you to a point of intense thinking, they are very unusual and unexpected.
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