Solo is a 2023 Canadian romantic drama film, written and directed by Sophie Dupuis.Charles-Henri Ramond, "Solo, en salle le 15 septembre". Films du Québec, May 4, 2023. The film stars Théodore Pellerin as Simon, a young emerging drag queen in Montreal who is drawn into a passionate but complicated romance with Olivier (Félix Maritaud), while simultaneously navigating a reunion with his estranged mother Claire (Anne-Marie Cadieux), whom he has not seen since she left Canada 15 years earlier to pursue her career as an opera singer.Elsa Keslassy, "Queer Romance Drama ‘Solo’ by Canadian Director Sophie Dupuis Boarded by SND". Variety, May 9, 2023.
The film's cast also includes Jean Marchand, Vlad Alexis, Tommy Joubert, Alice Moreault and Marc-André Leclair. Its soundtrack includes music by ABBA, Chaka Khan, Marie Davidson, CRi, Donna Summer, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Alma Faye Brooks, Filippin & Runah, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Mitsou.
Synopsis Follows Simon, who must deal with the disappointment of two impossible loves: a passionate but destructive crush on Olivier and a distant and cold relationship with his mother Claire, who has just moved back in after a 15-year absence.
Cast
Production The film entered production in 2022, under the working title Drag."Retour sur le tournage de Drag, de Sophie Dupuis". Ici Radio-Canada, April 7, 2022. Dupuis has acknowledged the risk that the film may be controversial in the contemporary political climate around the legitimacy of drag, but has described the film as a "gesture of activism" in defense of the art form."Sophie Dupuis entrevoit de la controverse avec SOLO". Ici Radio-Canada, May 2, 2023.
Dupuis has described her directorial process as one in which she does not present a finished script at the outset, but instead works extensively with her actors to "rehearse a lot and bring new ideas, propose, deconstruct something, maybe brainstorm with me, and we rewrite" before arriving at the final script.Pat Mullen, "‘Solo’ at TIFF is a celebratory love letter to Montreal’s drag scene". Xtra Magazine, September 8, 2023.
Pellerin noted in an interview on the CBC Gem talk show Here & Queer that after production concluded on Family First (Chien de garde), Dupuis asked him if there were any particular roles he would be interested in playing in the future, and he said a drag queen.Peter Knegt, "Félix Maritaud and Théodore Pellerin on giving us the drag queen love story we deserve in Solo". CBC Arts, October 5, 2023.
Distribution The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival,Anthony D'Alessandro, "TIFF Lineup Unveiled Amid Strikes: Awards Contenders ‘Dumb Money’, ‘The Holdovers’, ‘Rustin’; Starry Pics For Sale With Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet, Michael Keaton, Viggo Mortensen & More". Deadline Hollywood, July 24, 2023. and screened as the opening film of the 2023 Quebec City Film Festival,Charles-Henri Ramond, "Solo en ouverture du FCVQ". Films du Québec, August 10, 2023. before going into commercial release in September 2023. It was acquired for U.S. distribution by Music Box Films and will be released in limited theaters in May 2024.
Critical response Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 75 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.
Allan Hunter of Screen Daily described the film as containing elements of All About Eve, Opening Night and Passages, writing that "Dupuis is well served by her actors. The female characters generally have less impact but Alice Moreault makes the most of the loyal Maude as she is forced into the role of helpless bystander to her brother’s growing unhappiness. Felix Maritaud lends Olivier a light, seductive charm that can always be switched on if it is to his advantage. He also brings the weary air of someone who only wants a relationship on his terms and will suffer neither challenge nor tantrum. Recently seen as Beau’s son in Beau Is Afraid (2023), the prolific Pellerin is perfectly cast as Simon. All windmill arms and wounded heart, his surface confidence as Glory Gore is distinct from the vulnerabilities he reveals as someone unable to believe that he is entirely worthy of love."Allan Hunter, "‘Solo’: Toronto Review". Screen Daily, September 10, 2023.
The film was named to TIFF's annual Canada's Top Ten list for 2023.Pat Mullen, "TIFF’s Canada’s Top Ten Includes BlackBerry, Solo, Humanist Vampire". That Shelf, December 6, 2023.
Awards Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Toronto International Film Festival September 2023 Best Canadian Film Sophie Dupuis Christian Zilko, "American Fiction’ Wins People’s Choice Award at 2023 TIFF (Complete Winners List)". IndieWire, September 17, 2023. Toronto Film Critics Association 2023 Rogers Best Canadian Film Award Erik Anderson, "Toronto Film Critics Association (TFCA) Awards: ‘The Zone of Interest’ Wins Best Picture, Director". AwardsWatch, December 17, 2023. Outstanding Performance in a Canadian Film Théodore Pellerin Vancouver Film Critics Circle 2023 Best Actor in a Canadian Film Taimur Sikander Mirza, "BlackBerry, Seagrass lead VFCC’s Canadian nominees". Playback, January 23, 2024. Canadian Screen Awards May 2024 Best Picture Étienne Hansez "BlackBerry Leads CSA Nominations". Northern Stars, March 6, 2024. Best Director Sophie Dupuis Best Lead Performance in a Drama Film Théodore Pellerin Best Cinematography Mathieu Laverdière Prix Iris December 8, 2024 Best Film Étienne Hansez Éric Lavallée, "Prix Iris 2024: Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person Leads “Quebec Oscars” Noms". Ioncinema, October 9, 2024. Best Director Sophie Dupuis Best Actor Théodore Pellerin "Suivez notre couverture en direct du 26e Gala Québec Cinéma". Ici Radio-Canada, December 8, 2024. Best Costume Design Cédric Quenneville Charles-Henri Ramond, "Gala Artisans 2024: les lauréats dévoilés". Films du Québec, December 5, 2024. Best Cinematography Mathieu Laverdière Best Editing Marie-Pier Dupuis, Dominique Fortin, Maxim Rheault Best Original Music Charles Lavoie Best Sound Patrice LeBlanc, Luc Boudrias, Jean Camden Best Hair Nermin Grbic Best Makeup Marie Salvado
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