Grande ourse: La clé des possibles

Grande Ourse, the TV show was absolutely terrific. Grande Ourse, the film is a reasonably clever and entertaining follow-up, but it doesn't fly as high as it's predecessor.

For starters, one can't deny the film works better for a follower of the show and at least one scene won't make any sense for someone who haven't seen the series. Visually, the film is impressive: camera-work and production design are pristine. After a powerful start, the story unfolds in a lively manner, but some plot points are illogical and the grande finale doesn't really deliver the emotional punch one might expect.

Veterans from the TV show, Marc Messier and Normand Daneau are both at the top of their games. Fanny Mallette is equally strong, but her character is not featured as prominently as in the TV show. Among the newcomers, Marie Tifo and Monique Mercure, two grandes dames of the Québécois scene, are not given much to do and that's a bit of a disappointment. Maude Guérin is witty and energetic while Gabrielle Lazure plays her part with conviction. But the best of the new players is Frédéric Gilles who gives an understated yet superb performance.

The first five minutes are intense as the movie appears to be some kind of bizarre nightmare, perhaps a cross between Dark City and a horror movie. Then the stock characters reveal themselves and it begins to enter into an occult adventure phase - sort of like X-files meets the DaVinci Code. There is a dark problem which must be solved but what it is is best understood if you're wearing a straight-jacket and living in a padded cell. Everyone else will just have to roll along with it - which isn't difficult considering the intense fantasy sequences and hypnotic cinematography. A lot of good material here - you never know what will jump out at you. Perhaps, in the end, it feels like not enough jumped out. There was no ultimate scene to take you from your chair to the ceiling; the best comes early on, leaving the feeling of one long exhale, and wondering why you were too chicken to watch it with the lights off. Frightening enough to say "Not for kids"

The adventurous star journalist "Lapointe" who has the "gift" to see the future (specially the ugly parts) and photographer "Biron" star this film with great photography, sound and stunning visuals, but maybe lacking a bit of emotional content. I agree with IMDb reviewer "khkh (Montréal)" both on this film being "visually impressive" and "powerful start" but plot holes and disappointing ending.

From the beginning colours are very important. Monique Mercure's old lady is dressed in red, whereas all the rest is pale blue/ green. And the two wolds are clearly distinct: the real world is pale in comparison with the alternative one, even the character's personalities. The only thing both realities have in common is that there is nobody in the streets, which makes for dramatic effect but makes it all look like a video game more than reality. Voyeur "Lucinda Garneau" is smothered in an icy lake by her mum in the first 2 minutes, nothing reaches that powerful "dramatic effect" from then on. IMDb reviewer "wlee08" is right about the film being quite scary, specially the beginning. Not for kids!

Beautiful "Gastonne *(??) Belliveau" (Fanny Mallette) is an unlikely "private detective", former cop, who reads romantic novels "on the side for her husband doesn't approve of her readings" and is shown basically tender feelings during this movie. Catty Gabrielle Lazure is the devoted wife. Beautiful and "selfish", no need to say anything else about how her fate will be. Frédéric Gilles as ancient mythology professor Foucault (surname :)!) has a more interesting character, it could be said that the film is a duel between his "esoteric/ supernatural" quest, and Lapointe's, who also likes the eartlhy goods. The bookshop owner ("Evelyne O'Neal") plays a nice sensitive character, and her cool huge bookshop makes you want to own one :). Pity she says early on: "I'm about to go bankrupt". It seems some things are more or less equal in all the "possible worlds" :) :(. The old lady and the kid who tap dances are pretty scary.

Cinematography owes a lot to blockbusters Matrix, Inception and the like. The film begins with some interesting "philosophical" questions, that soon fade because the film is more focused on action, FX and trips to and fro the parallel worlds. Music is immersive.

On the positive side, I liked the name of the office both main characters work at: "Third eye", and as Lapointe has some practical nuisance to deal with, a passer by quips: "there are days like this", to which he retorts: "there are LIFES like this". He says to her female interest: "I've learnt it can always go even lower". A negative chap who has to learn "how to live", a classical movie character.

You will probably enjoy it if you like esotericism. As I don't, I liked watching it but I wouldn't do it again. It's a nice film, thou.