Ceux qui font les révolutions à moitié n'ont fait que se creuser un tombeau

Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves
‘After twelve weeks of striking, assemblies, solidarity, arrest, protest, what do we get? Nothing.’

As the 2012 'Maple Spring' student protest movement in Quebec slowly ebbs away, a dark storm of violence gathers. Driven by a growing sense of frustrated powerlessness and a longing for a new life, Klas Batalo, Ordine Nuovo, Tumulto and Giutizia form an avant-garde splinter group. Their deep-rooted hostility towards the prevailing social order finds an ambiguous political expression in acts that include guerilla pranks and throwing Molotov cocktails. Using powerful imagery shaped by a century of political aesthetics, the film is a collage of scenes and documentary fragments that makes the isolation of the four protagonists tangible. In the course of a path formed by ideals and doubt, we witness their radicalism as it increasingly turns inwards.
by Mathieu Denis, Simon Lavoie
with Charlotte Aubin, Laurent Bélanger, Emmanuelle Lussier Martinez, Gabrielle Tremblay
Canada 2016 French, English 183’ Colour empfohlen ab 16 Jahren

With

  • Charlotte Aubin (Giutizia)
  • Laurent Bélanger (Tumulto)
  • Emmanuelle Lussier Martinez (Ordine Nuovo)
  • Gabrielle Tremblay (Klas Batalo)

Crew

Director Mathieu Denis, Simon Lavoie
Cinematography Nicolas Canniccioni
Editing Mathieu Denis
Sound François Grenon, Patrice Leblanc, Clovis Gouaillier
Production Design Éric Barbeau
Costumes Becca Blackwood
Make-Up Marie Salvado
Production Manager François Bonneau
Producer Hany Ouichou

Produced by

art & essai

Mathieu Denis

Born in Montréal, Canada in 1977, he studied cinema at the Université du Québec in Montréal. He first began working as an editor before turning to writing and directing in 2006. His short films Le Silence nous fera écho and Code 13 screened at numerous festivals around the world. He co-wrote and co-directed his first feature Laurentie (Laurentia) with Simon Lavoie. The film premiered at Karlovy Vary and won awards at many international festivals. His feature film Corbo was presented at the Berlinale in 2015.

Filmography (selection)

2011 Laurentie 2014 Corbo 2016 Ceux qui font les révolutions à moitié n'ont fait que se creuser un tombeau (Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2017

Simon Lavoie

Born in Charlevoix, Canada in 1979, he studied film at the Université du Québec in Montréal. After making several short and medium-length films, he wrote and directed his debut feature film Le Déserteur in 2008. Le Torrent, a poetic adaptation of a work by Canadian writer Anne Hébert, premiered at the Festival du nouveau cinéma in Montréal. Following Laurentie (Laurentia), Ceux qui font les révolutions à moitié n’ont fait que se creuser un tombeau (Those Who Make Revolutions Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves) is his second collaboration with Mathieu Denis.

Filmography (selection)

2008 Le Déserteur 2011 Laurentie 2012 Le Torrent 2016 Ceux qui font les révolutions à moitié n'ont fait que se creuser un tombeau (Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2017