You Are Not Alone () is a Canadian romantic comedy science fiction film, directed by Marie-Hélène Viens and Philippe Lupien and released in 2024.Charles-Henri Ramond, "Début de tournage pour Vous n’êtes pas seuls". Films du Québec, October 27, 2023. The film stars Pier-Luc Funk as Léo, an aimless young man in Montreal who meets and falls in love with Rita (Marianne Fortier), a musician, while being unknowingly targeted by an alien (François Papineau) who is preying on the city's young slackers.Maxime Demers, "Tournage du film «Vous n’êtes pas seuls»: Pier-Luc Funk et Marianne Fortier en vedette dans une comédie romantique". Le Journal de Montréal, October 25, 2023.
The cast also includes Sandrine Bisson, Blaise Tardif, Micheline Lanctôt and Florence Blain Mbaye.
The film premiered in the Discovery program at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.Rebecca Rubin, "Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis,’ Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Queer’ and More Added to TIFF Lineup". Variety, August 13, 2024.
The film was shortlisted for the 2024 Jean-Marc Vallée DGC Discovery Award.Connie Thiessen, "Sweet Angel Baby leads DGC Awards’ film nominations". Broadcast Dialogue, September 20, 2024. At TIFF, it received an honorable mention for the Best Canadian Discovery Award.Steve Pond, "‘The Life of Chuck’ Wins Toronto Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award". TheWrap, September 15, 2024.
Critical response
The film has generally positive reviews.
Joe Lipsett wrote on QueerHorrorMovies.com: "What’s so commendable about You Are Not Alone is how Lupien and Viens don’t overplay their hand. The unconventional elements of the aliens (the fridge, John’s ability to stun and compel victims) are the only true “supernatural” elements in an otherwise grounded film. And You Are Not Alone is all the better for it. There’s an emotional honesty in Rita and Léo’s relationship that is achingly believable and the strange alien story beats work to complement and augment the audience’s investment in the film’s central relationship."
On Elements of Madness, Justin Waldman awarded the film 3/5, and said: "Philippe Lupien and Marie-Hélène Viens craft a romance that is blended with science fiction that unfortunately doesn’t lean into either category too heavily. While the exploration of both genres is touched upon, further fleshing them out would cast a wider net of appeal, but thankfully the brilliance distilled upon the film from the two leads brings the genre mashup to par and creates a world for the audience to get lost in, even if the payoff is slightly underwhelming."
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