Cinema
Léolo
Jean-Claude Lauzon · 1992
Synopsis
A working-class district in the east of Montreal. A twelve-year-old boy disowns his father and has himself called Léolo Lozone: he believes he was conceived by a tomato that had been fertilised by the seed of a Sicilian peasant, and so wants to be Sicilian. His brother Fernand throws himself into bodybuilding, his two sisters, Rita and Nanette, go through the psychiatric hospital, and his mother seems the only one of sound mind; he holds his grandfather responsible for the family's misfortunes. He dreams of Bianca, the Italian girl next door, and writes in a notebook pages that an old man pulls out of the rubbish bins.
Context
The second and last film by its director, presented in official competition at Cannes in 1992. It draws on the childhood memories of the man who made it, and the Canadian Encyclopedia calls it pseudo-autobiographical; the old man who collects the child's writings, the word tamer, played by Pierre Bourgault, is inspired by Petrowski. The voice that speaks the texts is that of Léolo as an adult, lent by Gilbert Sicotte. A restored print was presented at Cannes Classics in 2014.
Who it is for
Nearly two hours, beautiful and harsh, in which crudeness and dream alternate without transition; several scenes are hard to watch.
Prizes and reception
Three Genie Awards, including that for best original screenplay; cited in 2005 by Time among the hundred best films of all time.
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