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.
