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Film Code: [MIRAC]
Miracle in Memphis: Elvis Gratton II Elvis Gratton II: Miracle a Memphis
Quebec, 1999, 103 minutes
Director: Pierre Falardeau Cast: Julien Poulin, Yves Trudel, Barry Blake, Jacques Thériault, Gilles-Philippe Delorme Producer: Bernadette Payeur, Christian Larouche Associate Producer: Marc Daigle Screenplay: Pierre Faladeau, Julien Poulin Cinematographer: Alain Dostie Editor: Claude Palardy Music: Jean St-Jacques Production Company: ACPAV/Films Cinépix Distributor/Sales Agent: Lions Gate Films
English-Canadian Premiere
He was last spotted at the VIFF in 1986 in Elvis Gratton, Le King des Kings, but he returns triumphant in 1999. Grossing more than $1 million in its first four days of release, this summer's box office hit in Quebec is the return of Pierre Falardeau (October, VIFF 94) and Julien Poulin's cult classic creation, Elvis Gratton. After being dead for three days, he wakes, only the second person in two thousand years to do that. He's a godsend for business, but (un)fortunately his brain continues to register no activity. The miracle man is quickly transformed, and the "little guy from Brossard," is an instant international celebrity. His philosophy is American and his motto is ?Think Big!?
Much debated, Gratton might be thought of as the quintessential Canadian federalist, yet in an era of globalization Gratton could just as well be any Liberal. Falardeau describes the film as both ?an ode to industrialized culture? and ?a documentary" - all he did after all was just document what was around him, and Molson even let Elvis have some beers. This is populist and wry political satire; with plenty of vulgarity and sight gags it is reminiscent of Chaplin and Tati - and yes, we hate to say it, even Benny Hill. Brendan Kelly states in Variety: ?It will almost certainly become one of the all-time top French-Canadian hits.? But he notes later that it will be incomprehensible outside Canada. It is a pleasure to be in on the joke Diane Burgess and Ken Anderlini
Selected Filmography: Les Canadiens sont là (73), Elvis Gratton, le King des Kings (85), Le Party (89), Octobre (94)
Preceded by:
Insurrection (Rena Del Pieve Gobbi, British Columbia, 1999, 4 min.) A hand-painted film that works to foreground the viewer's subjective response over that of the filmmaker. (K.A.) Print Source rena del pieve gobbi
Screening 1: 10/05/99 9:30pm Ridge Screening 2: 10/07/99 4:15pm VanCentre 1 |
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