Mars and April

It was luck that led me to discover this movie, a few years ago, as if it came to me in a strange way. I approached it without expecting anything, only driven by my curiosity for Quebec science-fiction cinema. What a confusing and beautiful experience it is to dive into the universe of Mars et Avril.

This first feature film from director Martin Villeneuve is a dreamy and poetic experience, juggling with so many philosophical and artistic references without ever falling into the free quote. It is easy to feel the deep love the director has for science fiction cinema and Franco-Belgian comics and there is something very touching about it, as he managed to work with the legendary François Schuiten (The Dark Cities).

It is certain that this film will not appeal to everyone, because it is a contemplative experience, which does not give the viewer all the keys to understanding, but if you let yourself be carried away by its strange and dreamy atmosphere, the experience will be wonderful.

What is really amazing about Mars et Avril is the fact that Martin Villeneuve and his teams managed to create such a visually impressive production with only 2.3 millions USD's budget. This great tour-de-force led him to the TED scene to talk about the creative process.

I highly recommend watching this first great Quebec science fiction film. Mars et Avril is rich, intriguing, fascinating and refreshingly poetic !