Emporte-moi
Encyclopedia
Emporte-Moi is a 1999 French-Canadian film by director
Léa Pool
and starring Karine Vanasse
. It tells the story of Hanna, a girl struggling with her sexuality and the depression of both her parents as she goes through puberty in Quebec
in 1963. The film heavily references the French new-wave film "Vivre sa vie" ("It's my life") by Jean-Luc Godard
.
The film won critical acclaim and several awards, both for Pool and Vanasse, including being named the year's best Canadian feature by the Toronto Film Critics Association
.
.
Returning to the city, Hanna resumes her relationships with her depressive mother, her erratic father and her brother, who is understandably usually absent from home. Hanna's mother, a fashion designer, has put aside all of her artistic dreams in favour of devoting all her time to supporting Hanna's father, an unpublished writer she believes to be a genius. Hanna's father, distant and erratic, gets a job working for a newspaper, but soon quits, and spends all day playing chess in a café while his wife thinks he is at work.
Hanna is fascinated with Anna Karina
's character in the Jean-Luc Godard
film "Vivre sa vie" and spends much of her time watching the film and practicing mimicking her cool detachment. She also begins to be aware of her sexuality, developing a crush on a female teacher, and kissing another girl, Laura, at a school dance.
Hanna's mother attempts suicide, and while she is recovering, Hanna is sent to get a loaf of bread by her father. The baker gropes her; then gives her money.
Hanna attempts to set Laura up with Paul; however, it is clear that the inclusion of the boy is a pretense meant to somehow undercut the implications of her attraction to Laura. This culminates in a game of Spin the bottle
between the three.
Hanna decides to experiment with being a prostitute, like her idol Anna Karina, but at the last moment changes her mind. However, her john refuses to let her back out, and forces himself on her.
As the school year ends, Hannah's mother returns to her family, and Hannah finds a new way to express herself and cope with the world using a film camera lent to her by her teacher.
, criticised the film's ending for seeming somewhat forced.
Emporte-Moi, released in the United States on a single screen, grossed only $74,052 at the box-office.
nominations for best director and best screenplay, and the film was awarded the Toronto Film Critics Association Award
for best Canadian film of 1999. At the Toronto International Film Festival, Emporte-moi was awarded the Special Jury Citation for Best Canadian Feature Film, and Vanasse earned the Special Jury Congratulation for her work on the film. It also received four Jutra award
s, for best actress (Vanasse), supporting actress (Bussières), direction, and art direction, and was nominated in four other categories.
Internationally, the film received the Swiss Film Prize
and the Special Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the Berlin International Film Festival
. It was also honoured at international film festivals in the United States
, Italy
, Belgium, Bosnia
, and Spain..
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Léa Pool
Léa Pool
Léa Pool is a Swiss-Canadian filmmaker who has also taught film at UQAM. She is openly lesbian. Her 1986 film Anne Trister was entered into the 36th Berlin International Film Festival. Her 1999 film Emporte-moi was entered into the 49th Berlin International Film Festival where it won the Special...
and starring Karine Vanasse
Karine Vanasse
Karine Vanasse is a French Canadian actress. She currently appears in the role of Colette in the ABC TV series Pan Am. Vanasse is the daughter of council worker Conrad Vanasse and Renée Gamache, who was her manager at the beginning of her career.-Life and career:Vanasse was born in Drummondville,...
. It tells the story of Hanna, a girl struggling with her sexuality and the depression of both her parents as she goes through puberty in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in 1963. The film heavily references the French new-wave film "Vivre sa vie" ("It's my life") by Jean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard is a French-Swiss film director, screenwriter and film critic. He is often identified with the 1960s French film movement, French Nouvelle Vague, or "New Wave"....
.
The film won critical acclaim and several awards, both for Pool and Vanasse, including being named the year's best Canadian feature by the Toronto Film Critics Association
Toronto Film Critics Association
The Toronto Film Critics Association is an organization of film reviewers from Toronto-based publications. As of 1999, the TFCA is member of FIPRESCI.-History:...
.
Plot
Hanna is living on a farm with her Grandparents and mentally handicapped uncle when she gets her first period. The onset of puberty (and her grandmother's relatively non-supportive explanation of it) trigger her decision to return to her parents in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
Returning to the city, Hanna resumes her relationships with her depressive mother, her erratic father and her brother, who is understandably usually absent from home. Hanna's mother, a fashion designer, has put aside all of her artistic dreams in favour of devoting all her time to supporting Hanna's father, an unpublished writer she believes to be a genius. Hanna's father, distant and erratic, gets a job working for a newspaper, but soon quits, and spends all day playing chess in a café while his wife thinks he is at work.
Hanna is fascinated with Anna Karina
Anna Karina
Anna Karina is a Danish film actress, director, and screenwriter who has spent most of her working life in France. Karina is known as a muse of the director, Jean-Luc Godard, one of the pioneers of the French New Wave...
's character in the Jean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard
Jean-Luc Godard is a French-Swiss film director, screenwriter and film critic. He is often identified with the 1960s French film movement, French Nouvelle Vague, or "New Wave"....
film "Vivre sa vie" and spends much of her time watching the film and practicing mimicking her cool detachment. She also begins to be aware of her sexuality, developing a crush on a female teacher, and kissing another girl, Laura, at a school dance.
Hanna's mother attempts suicide, and while she is recovering, Hanna is sent to get a loaf of bread by her father. The baker gropes her; then gives her money.
Hanna attempts to set Laura up with Paul; however, it is clear that the inclusion of the boy is a pretense meant to somehow undercut the implications of her attraction to Laura. This culminates in a game of Spin the bottle
Spin the bottle
Spin the Bottle is a party game in which several players sit/stand/kneel in a circle. One player spins a bottle and must kiss the person to whom the bottle points, who then spins the bottle in turn...
between the three.
Hanna decides to experiment with being a prostitute, like her idol Anna Karina, but at the last moment changes her mind. However, her john refuses to let her back out, and forces himself on her.
As the school year ends, Hannah's mother returns to her family, and Hannah finds a new way to express herself and cope with the world using a film camera lent to her by her teacher.
Reception
Emporte-Moi was well-received by critics, and was given an average rating of 8/10 by reviewers. . Critics generally praised the film's bittersweet tone and the performances, particularly that of Vanasse. Still, some, such as Roger EbertRoger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
, criticised the film's ending for seeming somewhat forced.
Emporte-Moi, released in the United States on a single screen, grossed only $74,052 at the box-office.
Awards
Emporte-Moi received a large number of awards. Pool earned Genie20th Genie Awards
The 20th Genie Awards were held in 2000 to honour films released in 1999. The ceremony was hosted by Patrick McKenna.-Best Motion Picture:*Sunshine, Andras Hamori and Robert Lantos, producers...
nominations for best director and best screenplay, and the film was awarded the Toronto Film Critics Association Award
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 1999
The 3rd Toronto Film Critics Association Awards, honoring the best in film for 1999, were held on 16 December 1999.-Winners:*Best Actor:**Kevin Spacey – American BeautyRunner-Up: Jim Carrey – Man on the Moon*Best Actress:...
for best Canadian film of 1999. At the Toronto International Film Festival, Emporte-moi was awarded the Special Jury Citation for Best Canadian Feature Film, and Vanasse earned the Special Jury Congratulation for her work on the film. It also received four Jutra award
Jutra Award
The Jutra Award is a Canadian annual cinema award that recognizes talent and achievement in the mainly francophone feature film industry in the province of Quebec...
s, for best actress (Vanasse), supporting actress (Bussières), direction, and art direction, and was nominated in four other categories.
Internationally, the film received the Swiss Film Prize
Swiss Film Prize
The Swiss Film Prize is the national film award of Switzerland, first given out in 1998.* 1998 to 2008 : the Prize was given in during the Solothurn Film Festival....
and the Special Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
. It was also honoured at international film festivals in the United States
Chicago International Film Festival
The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America....
, Italy
Giffoni Film Festival
The Giffoni International Film Festival is the largest children’s film festival in Europe, and possibly the World. It takes place in the little Italian town of Giffoni Valle Piana in Southern Italy, close to Salerno. Over 2,000 children attend the festival from 39 countries around the world...
, Belgium, Bosnia
Sarajevo Film Festival
The Sarajevo Film Festival is the premier and largest film festival in the Balkans, and is one of the largest in Europe. It was founded in Sarajevo in 1995 during the siege of Sarajevo, and brings international and local celebrities to Sarajevo every year. It is held in August and showcases an...
, and Spain..
Cast
- Karine VanasseKarine VanasseKarine Vanasse is a French Canadian actress. She currently appears in the role of Colette in the ABC TV series Pan Am. Vanasse is the daughter of council worker Conrad Vanasse and Renée Gamache, who was her manager at the beginning of her career.-Life and career:Vanasse was born in Drummondville,...
as Hanna - Pascale BussièresPascale BussièresPascale Bussières is a Canadian actress.- Life and work :She is a cinema studies alumna from Concordia University, living in Montreal.- Movies :- TV Series :*1989: Chambres en ville*1991: Marilyn...
as Hanna's mother - Miki ManojlovicMiki ManojlovicPredrag "Miki" Manojlović is a Serbian actor, famous for his starring roles in some of the most important films of former Yugoslav cinema. Since the early 1990s, he successfully branched out into movies made outside the Balkans, meaning that he's currently active in productions all over Europe...
as Hanna's father - Alexandre Mérineau as Paul, Hanna's brother
- Charlotte Christeler as Laura
- Nancy HustonNancy HustonNancy Louise Huston, OC is a Canadian-born novelist and essayist who writes primarily in French and translates her own works into English.-Biography:...
as Teacher - Monique MercureMonique MercureMonique Mercure, is a Canadian actress.-Career:Mercure was born in Montreal, Quebec. At the 1977 Cannes Film Festival she won the award for Best Actress for the film J.A. Martin Photographer...
as Hanna's grandmother - Jacques Galipeau as Hanna's grandfather
- Carl Hennebert-Faulkner as Martin
- Neil Kroetsch as pawnbroker
- Michel AlbertMichel AlbertMichel Albert is a French economist. He was born 25 February 1930 at Fontenay-le-Comte and is the Permanent Secretary of the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques since 1 January 2005....
as security guard - Gary Boudreault as baker
- Marie-Hélène Gagnon as landlord
- Suzanne Garceau as nurse
- Normand Canac-Marquis as Hanna's john