Les Filles du Roi () is a Canadian musical drama film, directed by Corey Payette and released in 2023.V.S. Wells, "Review: Corey Payette’s “Les Filles du Roi” blossoms from stage to screen". The Georgia Straight, October 6, 2023. Written by Payette and Julie McIsaac, the film presents a feminist and Indigenous spin on the colonization of Canada through the story of Marie-Jeanne Lespérance (Julie McIsaac), a French fille du roi in New France in the 17th century, and her emerging friendships with Kateri (Kaitlyn Yott) and Jean-Baptiste (Raes Calvert), a Mohawk sister and brother in the fur trade.Emily Lyth, "Corey Payette's musical theatre production Les Filles du Roi transforms into a film at VIFF, October 5 and 8". Stir, October 3, 2023.
The supporting cast includes Claire Johnstone, Jessica Carmichael, Oliver Castillo, Merewyn Comeau, Cecilly Day, Laura Di Cicco, Victor Dolhai, Kayla Dunbar, Lisa Goebel, Nathan Kay, Asivak Koostachin, Jennifer Lines, Olivia Lucas, Pippa Mackie and Matthew Mahihkan.
Set at a fort in 17th century Quebec, the film was adapted by Payette and McIsaac from their 2018 stage musical of the same name.Alexander Varty, "Settler history meets Indigenous culture in the new musical Les Filles du Roi". The Georgia Straight, May 9, 2018. It features dialogue and songs in English, French and Mohawk languages, and stars the same core cast as the original production.Kathleen Oliver, "Les Filles du Roi's trilingual, feminist-Indigenous musical is a triumph". The Georgia Straight, May 18, 2018. Payette opted to make the film after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the stage musical's national tour in 2020.
The film premiered in the Northern Lights program at the 2023 Vancouver International Film Festival. It was later screened at the 2024 Reelworld Film Festival, where Payette won the award for Outstanding Writing in a Feature Film.Jamie Casemore, "Simply Johanne named Outstanding Feature at Reelworld". Playback, November 13, 2024.
References
External links