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Solo (2023 film)

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Solo
Film poster
Directed bySophie Dupuis
Written bySophie Dupuis
Produced byÉtienne Hansez
Starring
CinematographyMathieu Laverdière
Edited by
Music byCharles Lavoie
Production
company
Bravo Charlie
Distributed byMusic Box Films
Release date
  • September 10, 2023 (2023-09-10) (TIFF)
Running time
102 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageFrench
Box office$13,369[1]

Solo is a 2023 Canadian romantic drama film, written and directed by Sophie Dupuis.[2] The film stars Théodore Pellerin as Simon, a young emerging drag queen in Montreal who is drawn into a passionate but complicated romance with Olivier (Félix Maritaud), while simultaneously navigating a reunion with his estranged mother Claire (Anne-Marie Cadieux), whom he has not seen since she left Canada 15 years earlier to pursue her career as an opera singer.[3]

The film's cast also includes Jean Marchand, Vlad Alexis, Tommy Joubert, Alice Moreault and Marc-André Leclair. Its soundtrack includes music by ABBA, Chaka Khan, Marie Davidson, CRi, Donna Summer, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Alma Faye Brooks, Filippin & Runah, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Mitsou.

Production

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The film entered production in 2022, under the working title Drag.[4] Dupuis has acknowledged the risk that the film may be controversial in the contemporary political climate around the legitimacy of drag, but has described the film as a "gesture of activism" in defense of the art form.[5]

Dupuis has described her directorial process as one in which she does not present a finished script at the outset, but instead works extensively with her actors to "rehearse a lot and bring new ideas, propose, deconstruct something, maybe brainstorm with me, and we rewrite" before arriving at the final script.[6]

Pellerin noted in an interview on the CBC Gem talk show Here & Queer that after production concluded on Family First (Chien de garde), Dupuis asked him if there were any particular roles he would be interested in playing in the future, and he said a drag queen.[7]

Distribution

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The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival,[8] and screened as the opening film of the 2023 Quebec City Film Festival,[9] before going into commercial release in September 2023.[2] It was acquired for U.S. distribution by Music Box Films and will be released in limited theaters in May 2024.[10]

Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 94% of 35 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.1/10.[11] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 75 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[12]

Allan Hunter of Screen Daily described the film as containing elements of All About Eve, Opening Night and Passages, writing that "Dupuis is well served by her actors. The female characters generally have less impact but Alice Moreault makes the most of the loyal Maude as she is forced into the role of helpless bystander to her brother’s growing unhappiness. Felix Maritaud lends Olivier a light, seductive charm that can always be switched on if it is to his advantage. He also brings the weary air of someone who only wants a relationship on his terms and will suffer neither challenge nor tantrum. Recently seen as Beau’s son in Beau Is Afraid (2023), the prolific Pellerin is perfectly cast as Simon. All windmill arms and wounded heart, his surface confidence as Glory Gore is distinct from the vulnerabilities he reveals as someone unable to believe that he is entirely worthy of love."[13]

The film was named to TIFF's annual Canada's Top Ten list for 2023.[14]

Awards

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Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Toronto International Film Festival September 2023 Best Canadian Film Sophie Dupuis Won [15]
Toronto Film Critics Association 2023 Rogers Best Canadian Film Award Nominated [16]
Outstanding Performance in a Canadian Film Théodore Pellerin Nominated
Vancouver Film Critics Circle 2023 Best Actor in a Canadian Film Nominated [17]
Canadian Screen Awards May 2024 Best Picture Étienne Hansez Nominated [18]
Best Director Sophie Dupuis Nominated
Best Lead Performance in a Drama Film Théodore Pellerin Nominated
Best Cinematography Mathieu Laverdière Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "Solo (2023)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 28 June 2024.Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ a b Charles-Henri Ramond, "Solo, en salle le 15 septembre". Films du Québec, May 4, 2023.
  3. ^ Elsa Keslassy, "Queer Romance Drama ‘Solo’ by Canadian Director Sophie Dupuis Boarded by SND". Variety, May 9, 2023.
  4. ^ "Retour sur le tournage de Drag, de Sophie Dupuis". Ici Radio-Canada, April 7, 2022.
  5. ^ "Sophie Dupuis entrevoit de la controverse avec SOLO". Ici Radio-Canada, May 2, 2023.
  6. ^ Pat Mullen, "‘Solo’ at TIFF is a celebratory love letter to Montreal’s drag scene". Xtra Magazine, September 8, 2023.
  7. ^ Peter Knegt, "Félix Maritaud and Théodore Pellerin on giving us the drag queen love story we deserve in Solo". CBC Arts, October 5, 2023.
  8. ^ Anthony D'Alessandro, "TIFF Lineup Unveiled Amid Strikes: Awards Contenders ‘Dumb Money’, ‘The Holdovers’, ‘Rustin’; Starry Pics For Sale With Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet, Michael Keaton, Viggo Mortensen & More". Deadline Hollywood, July 24, 2023.
  9. ^ Charles-Henri Ramond, "Solo en ouverture du FCVQ". Films du Québec, August 10, 2023.
  10. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (2024-02-20). "Music Box Buys 'Solo,' Queer Love Story Set in Montreal's Drag Scene, for U.S. Distribution (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  11. ^ "Solo". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  12. ^ "Solo". Metacritic. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  13. ^ Allan Hunter, "‘Solo’: Toronto Review". Screen Daily, September 10, 2023.
  14. ^ Pat Mullen, "TIFF’s Canada’s Top Ten Includes BlackBerry, Solo, Humanist Vampire". That Shelf, December 6, 2023.
  15. ^ Christian Zilko, "American Fiction’ Wins People’s Choice Award at 2023 TIFF (Complete Winners List)". IndieWire, September 17, 2023.
  16. ^ Erik Anderson, "Toronto Film Critics Association (TFCA) Awards: ‘The Zone of Interest’ Wins Best Picture, Director". AwardsWatch, December 17, 2023.
  17. ^ Taimur Sikander Mirza, "BlackBerry, Seagrass lead VFCC’s Canadian nominees". Playback, January 23, 2024.
  18. ^ "BlackBerry Leads CSA Nominations". Northern Stars, March 6, 2024.
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