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Un 32 août sur terre
The film Un 32 août sur terre, written and directed by Denis Villeneuve, offers a portrait of the generation of young adults (in their late twenties) in the years 1998-99. Villeneuve gives a realistic and romantic view of the interval of time before the age of thirty, just before the end of a youth deluded by hope and simplicity.
The story tells of Simone, a model, who after a car accident comes to realize that she wants to renounce her current life, and asks her best friend Philippe to father her child. He agrees, on condition that the child be conceived in the desert. Thus, they leave together for Salt Lake City, Utah, a journey that in turn endangers Philippe's life.
Pascale Bussières movingly portrays Simone, and Alexis Martin is admirable as Philippe, in the title roles. André Turpin's excellent cinematography supports the screenplay in a most original manner.
The film was warmly received by critics. It won acclaim and awards and was presented at more than 35 film festivals around the world including Cannes, Telluride, Toronto and Montréal. It was honoured with the Bayard d'or for best film at the Festival international du film francophone de Namur, and it represented Canada at the 1999 Oscars in the best foreign film category. Alexis Martin received two awards for best actor (1999): a Jutra, and a prize from the Festival des jeunes réalisateurs in St-Jean-de-Luz (France). At the same festival, Denis Villeneuve won best director and the jury prize.
