Matusalem (film) explained

Matusalem
Director:Roger Cantin
Producer:Claude Bonin
Starring:Marc Labrèche
Émile Proulx-Cloutier
Music:Milan Kymlicka
Cinematography:Michel Caron
Editing:Yves Langlois
Studio:Les Films Vision 4
Runtime:105 minutes
Country:Canada
Language:French

Matusalem is a 1993 Canadian children's adventure film, directed by Roger Cantin.[1] The film stars Marc Labrèche as Philippe de Beauchesne, a long-dead 18th-century pirate who returns to earth as a ghost every 50 years to enlist human assistance in completing the quest that will free his soul, and Émile Proulx-Cloutier as Olivier, a young boy who volunteers for the quest; however, Olivier himself is captured by another group of pirates, and Philippe must join with Olivier's other friends to save him.[2]

The film was promoted in part through a commercial tie-in with McDonald's, the first Canadian film ever sponsored by the fast food chain.[3]

The film received six Genie Award nominations at the 15th Genie Awards in 1994, for Best Original Screenplay (Cantin), Best Art Direction/Production Design (Vianney Gauthier), Best Costume Design (Francesca Chamberland), Best Overall Sound (Louis Hone, Dominique Chartrand, Jacques Drouin and Hans Peter Strobl), Best Sound Editing (Michel B. Bordeleau, Diane Boucher, Natalie Fleurant and Jérôme Décarie) and Best Original Score (Milan Kymlicka).[4]

A sequel film, Matusalem II, was released in 1997.[5]

Notes and References

  1. News: Pirate's story one of the best: You'll forget you're watching a `film for kids' . . September 23, 1994.
  2. News: Matusalem is an engaging adventure fantasy for kids; McDonald's shines through in this home-grown French-language film that's a sure winner . . December 19, 1993.
  3. News: Strong characters and special effects join forces with McDonald's . . January 15, 1994.
  4. Web site: The 1994 Genie nominees . . November 7, 1994.
  5. Web site: Matusalem II: Le dernier des Beauchesne – Film de Roger Cantin . Films du Québec . January 25, 2009.