Carcasses is a 2009 Canadian docufiction film written and directed by Denis Côté. Starring Jean-Paul Colmor alongside a non-professional cast, the film centres on a scrapyard owner in Saint-Amable, Quebec. It screened at the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes and was named to TIFF’s Canada’s Top Ten list for 2009.
Synopsis Blending documentary and fictionalized elements, the film centres on Jean-Paul Colmor, a 74-year-old scrapyard owner whose property in Saint-Amable, Quebec is filled with thousands of old cars. It first follows Colmor’s daily routine and isolated life, before shifting direction when four teenagers with Down syndrome arrive at the scrapyard.(May 29, 2009) "A meditation on what it means to be marginal". Montreal Gazette.
Cast The cast consists of non-professional performers, including Jean-Paul Colmor, Étienne Grutman, Célia Léveillée-Marois, Mark Scanlon, Charles-Élie Jacob, Julie Rouvière and Anne Carrier.
Production The film was produced by nihilproductions. It was written and directed by Denis Côté. Filming took place in Saint-Amable, Quebec, over eight days as part of Côté’s residency at the Montreal art centre PRIM. The film had an approximate budget of C$60,000. It combines documentary and fictional elements around Jean-Paul Colmor and the scrapyard where he lives and works. Most of the film was shot in long takes that observe Colmor’s daily routines before introducing staged elements.
Release Carcasses had its world premiere at the Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois on February 21, 2009. It was later shown at the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes on May 21, 2009.(May 11, 2009) "Next stop: Cannes; Three Quebec movies in the directors' spotlight at film festival". Montreal Gazette. After Cannes, the film played briefly at cinemas in Montreal and Quebec City, and was released on DVD by on January 26, 2010.
Reception Writing for Variety, Rob Nelson described parts of the film as "enjoyably eccentric", while calling its fictional turn a "sketchy provocation". He also noted the film’s blend of documentary observation and fictional elements.
Adam Nayman of POV Magazine described the film as "an austere portrait of a rugged individualist", and wrote that it changes direction after other figures enter Colmor’s world.
Ho Yi of the Taipei Times wrote that the film begins as a "contemplative documentary", before its scripted dramatic elements unsettle the viewer’s "assumptions and sense of certitude".
Recognition The film was named to the Toronto International Film Festival's year-end Canada's Top Ten list for 2009.(December 26, 2009) "Dolan, Nadda films among Canada's best of the year". Waterloo Region Record.
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