Family First
Film poster
Directed bySophie Dupuis
Written bySophie Dupuis
Produced byÉtienne Hansez
StarringJean-Simon Leduc
Théodore Pellerin
Maude Guérin
Claude Laberge
CinematographyMathieu Laverdière
Edited byDominique Fortin
Music byDead Obies
Production
company
Axia Films
Release date
  • 9 March 2018 (2018-03-09)[1]
Running time
87 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageFrench
Budget$1.5 million[2]

Family First (French: Chien de garde, lit. 'Watch Dog') is a 2018 Canadian crime film, written and directed by Sophie Dupuis. The film premiered at the Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois.[1] It is about a family in Verdun, Montreal, Quebec, including the protagonist JP (Jean-Simon Leduc), whose uncle Dany (Paul Ahmarani) leads a drug cartel. It was nominated for four Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Motion Picture, winning Best Actor for Théodore Pellerin.

Family First was selected as the Canadian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.

Plot

In Verdun, Quebec, Dany runs an illegal drug cartel. His nephews, JP and the younger Vincent, who's 19, work in deliveries and "collections". JP and Vincent travel through Verdun to a Chinese restaurant possessing drugs on Dany's territory, harass the staff and empty the tills; they also intimidate others to coerce them to stop selling on the family territory. JP is dating Mel, who is alarmed about Vincent's erratic behavior, and she suggests to JP that Vincent needs help. Mel sleeps with JP at JP and Vincent's residence, where they live with their mother Joe; however, Mel tries to persuade JP to move in with her. Vincent frequently sleeps in his mother's bed.

Dany tells JP that he wants a woman, Chantal, killed. JP resists, but Dany harangues him for telling him how to run his business. Dany also warns JP that if JP does not take the job, he will enlist Vincent to do it. JP also becomes aware Dany has been sending a large number of text messages to Mel; Dany tells her via text that JP is a "fag" and she should leave him. JP and Dany break into Chantal's residence, but JP finds Chantal's children are present, and he pulls out with Vincent, leaving Chantal alive. Outside, JP tells Vincent their situation is spiraling out of control and that they should leave the cartel. Vincent disagrees, saying this is what they share. At the dinner table, Vincent also accuses Mel of wanting to leave them, and warns her not to take JP with her. Vincent says he is marries to his family, JP and Joe.

Dany is enraged that JP has failed to kill Chantal, and gives the job to Vincent. JP attempts to warn Chantal. Vincent attempts to ambush Chantal with a gun, but Chantal is accompanied by a man who is also armed. The man intimidates Vincent, forcing him to drop his gun. Dany visits Joe's residence to express his anger, but when he leaves he is gunned down.

Cast

Production

Family First was Dupuis' first feature film, with a total budget of $1.5 million.[2] She received a $500,000 grant from the Cultural Enterprise Development Corporation for production.[1] After a location scout in Montreal, Dupuis stated: "I chose Verdun because I didn't want to go over territory that was already so well-worn. I discovered Verdun when we were scouting. It was really born out of this desire to place this family in a village within a city".[3]

Reception

Critical response

Marc-André Lussier, writing for La Presse, awarded Family First four stars, calling it a rare great debut for a Quebec director, proclaiming "Wow!"[4] Le Soleil's Éric Moreault assessed the film as a poignant exploration of the dysfunctional family, citing Dupuis' direction and Théodore Pellerin's performance.[5] Le Devoir critic Odile Tremblay cited Pellerin and Maude Guérin for their acting.[6]

Accolades

Family First received several nominations at the Prix Iris, including for Best Film.[7] It was selected as the Canadian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.[8]

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Canadian Screen Awards 31 March 2019 Best Motion Picture Étienne Hansez Nominated [9]
Best Director Sophie Dupuis Nominated
Best Actor Théodore Pellerin Won
Discovery Award Sophie Dupuis Nominated
Prix collégial du cinéma québécois 2019 Best Film Family First Nominated [10]
Prix Iris 3 June 2018 Best Film Étienne Hansez Nominated [11][12]
Best Director Sophie Dupuis Nominated
Best Screenplay Nominated
Best Actor Jean-Simon Leduc Nominated
Best Actress Maude Guérin Won
Best Editing Dominique Fortin Won
Best Original Music Dead Obies Nominated
Revelation of the Year Théodore Pellerin Won
Whistler Film Festival December 2018 Alliance of Women Film Journalists EDA Award Won [13]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Chien de garde, le premier film de Sophie Dupuis, en clôture des RVQC". Radio-Canada. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  2. 1 2 Lévesque, Francois (3 March 2018). "La quête viscérale de Sophie Dupuis". Le Devoir. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  3. ↑ Rose, Alex (March 2018). "Chien de garde is a gripping Montreal crime story". Cult MTL. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  4. ↑ Lussier, Marc-André (9 March 2018). "Chien de garde: wow! ****". La Presse. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  5. ↑ Moreault, Éric (8 March 2018). "Chien de garde: bombe à retardement ***1/2". Le Soleil. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  6. ↑ Tremblay, Odile (10 March 2018). ""Chien de garde": famille, je vous hais!". Le Devoir. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  7. ↑ Duchesne, Andre (10 April 2018). "Iris: Le problème d'infiltration et Hochelaga en tête des nominations". La Presse. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  8. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (19 September 2018). "Oscars: Canada Selects 'Watch Dog' for Foreign-Language Category". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  9. ↑ Barry Hertz, "2019 Canadian Screen Awards lean toward Quebec and the obscure, and thank goodness for that". The Globe and Mail, February 7, 2019.
  10. ↑ ""Happy Face" remporte le Prix collégial du cinéma québécois". Le Journal de Montréal (in French). March 30, 2019.
  11. ↑ Pradier, Samuel (29 May 2018). "Gala Artisans Québec Cinéma: cinq Iris pour "Les affamés"". Le Journal de Montreal. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  12. ↑ "Les affamés et Robin Aubert triomphent au Gala Québec Cinéma". Radio-Canada. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  13. ↑ Mack, Adrian. "Québécois film A Colony sweeps Whistler Film Fest awards". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
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