| The Confessional | |
| Director: | Robert Lepage |
| Producer: | Philippe Carcassonne David Puttnam Denise Robert |
| Starring: | Lothaire Bluteau Patrick Goyette Jean-Louis Millette |
| Music: | Sacha Puttnam |
| Cinematography: | Alain Dostie |
| Editing: | Emmanuelle Castro |
| Distributor: | Alliance Films (Canada) PolyGram Film Distribution (France and Belgium)[1] Curzon Artificial Eye (United Kingdom) |
| Runtime: | 100 minutes |
| Country: | Canada France United Kingdom |
| Language: | English, French |
The Confessional (French: '''Le Confessionnal''') is a 1995 mystery-drama film directed by Robert Lepage.[2]
The film is set in Quebec City, in two distinct time periods. In the present day, Pierre Lamontagne (Lothaire Bluteau) searches for his estranged brother Marc (Patrick Goyette) to help unravel a family mystery. The mystery itself unfolds in flashbacks set against the backdrop of Alfred Hitchcock's 1952 filming of I Confess in the city.[3]
The cast also includes Ron Burrage as Hitchcock, Kristin Scott Thomas as his assistant, and Jean-Louis Millette as Raymond Massicotte, Marc's lover who also holds the key to unlocking the Lamontagne family's secrets.
The Confessional is set in Quebec City in 1952, during the time Alfred Hitchcock was filming I Confess. The city is transitioning into the modern era due to the advent of television and its initial exposure to Hollywood. A character resembling Hitchcock is depicted during the local premiere of I Confess.[3]
The story shifts between events in the early '50s and 1989. In 1989, Pierre Lamontagne returns to Quebec City from China for his father's funeral. He struggles to find his adopted brother, Marc. They eventually reunite in a gay sauna. The brothers embark on a quest to discover Marc’s biological father, initially believed to be a parish priest. Their mother, Rachel, after multiple visits to the confessional, gave birth to Marc and later took her own life.
The film often revisits the making of I Confess, centering on Hitchcock's assistant as she interacts with the local church and organizes auditions for Hitchcock. Various characters, such as a mysterious gentleman, play significant roles in the unfolding narrative.[3]
The film was selected as the Canadian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 68th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[4] [5]
In 2001, an industry poll conducted by Playback named it the 13th best Canadian film of the preceding 15 years.[6]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genie Awards | 1996 | Best Picture | Denise Robert | [7] | |
| Best Director | Robert Lepage | ||||
| Best Actor | Lothaire Bluteau | [8] | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Anne-Marie Cadieux | ||||
| Marie Gignac | |||||
| Best Art Direction/Production Design | François Laplante | ||||
| Best Cinematography | Alain Dostie | ||||
| Best Costume Design | Barbara Kidd | ||||
| Best Editing | Emmanuelle Castro | ||||
| Best Overall Sound | Jean-Claude Laureux, Jo Caron, Hans Peter Strobl | ||||
| Best Sound Editing | Nick Berry, Jérôme Décarie, Jacques Plante, Diane Boucher, Antoine Morin | ||||
| Claude Jutra Award | Robert Lepage |