Death of a Ladies' Man is a 2020 Canadian-Irish coproduced black comedy-drama film, directed by Matt Bissonnette.Victoria Ahearn, "Cohen-inspired film brings back fond memories for star: Growing up in Dublin, Byrne was a big fan of Montreal musician-poet". Toronto Star, March 12, 2021. The film stars Gabriel Byrne as Samuel O'Shea, a college literature professor in Montreal who must confront his mortality and make peace with his family after a series of hallucinations lead to his diagnosis with an inoperable brain tumour.Randall King, "Laughing in the face of death: Humour, absurdity bring a light touch to bleak, Cohen-inspired Irish-Canadian drama". Winnipeg Free Press, March 12, 2021.
The film's cast also includes Jessica Paré, Brian Gleeson, Antoine Olivier Pilon, Karelle Tremblay, Suzanne Clément, Joel Bissonnette, Pascale Bussières, Alexandre Nachi and Tyrone Benskin.
The film's themes are reflected through the use of seven Leonard Cohen songs in its musical soundtrack: "Bird on the Wire", "Memories", "Hallelujah", "Why Don't You Try", "Heart with No Companion", "The Lost Canadian (Un Canadien errant)" and "Did I Ever Love You".Brad Wheeler, "What would Leonard Cohen say?". The Globe and Mail, March 12, 2021. The use of Cohen's literary or musical work is a recurring motif in Bissonnette's work, also seen in his 2002 filmmaking debut Looking for Leonard and his 2009 film Passenger Side.Randall King, "Drama draws on spirit of 'patron saint of Montreal'". Winnipeg Free Press, March 8, 2021. The film shares the title of Cohen's 1977 album of the same name.
The film premiered on September 24, 2020 at the Calgary International Film Festival,Eric Volmers, "No parties, all films at this film festival; Calgary's annual movie event scales back social events because of COVID". Calgary Herald, September 10, 2020. and went into commercial release in Canada in theatres and on video on demand platforms on March 12, 2021.
References
External links
Death of a Ladies' Man at Library and Archives Canada