Description

In a near and uneasy future, global warming has had an unexpected impact on the city of Montreal. Very suddenly, the ground of the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district has begun sprouting vast quantities of precious, pricey truffles. They are an immediate sensation worldwide with gourmands, bringing prosperity to Montrealers. When a fur-stole factory sets up shop in the neighbourhood, no one doubts that it’s a front for a greedy corporation seeking a monopoly over the valuable truffles. Before long, the earth begins to give up the last of its riches and poverty returns to the working class. The enigmatic company does have one challenger—Charles (Roy Dupuis), an independent truffle-hunter with an exceptional sense of smell, permitting him to make great hauls of truffles. Ready to do anything to block the competition, the company sets in motion ferious diabolical plots to undo Charles and his companion Alice (Céline Bonnier). Alone again the powerful organization, the couple can count on none but themselves to survive.

It’s Fantasia’s mandate to support genre film made here in Quebec, and so we’re very proud to open our 2008 edition with TRUFFE, an unhinged vision of tomorrow that could only come care of Kim Nguyen. The director of MARAIS drew on his own dreams to fashion a sinister realm of embittered labourers and crazy creatures. A filmmaker of unbridled imagination, Nguyen takes remarkable risks is blending his critique of over-consumption with fantastic notions recalling the early films of Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro. Director of photography Nicolas Bolduc (LA PIÈGE D’ISSOUNDUN) brings breathtaking beauty to the black-and-white imagery and his careful compositions suggest the flair of German expressionism. A number of local stars crowd the screen, including Pierre Lebeau, Jean-Nicolas Verreault and, in surprising play against type, Michèle Richard. With its freewheeling energy and ideas, TRUFFE stands apart from the usual cinematic fare of Quebec. Let the festival begin!

—Simon Laperrière (translated by Rupert Bottenberg)