Mars et Avril (film)
Encyclopedia
Mars et Avril is a Canadian science fiction film
, currently in post-production, starring Jacques Languirand
, Caroline Dhavernas
, Paul Ahmarani
and Robert Lepage
. The feature film, based on the graphic novels of the same name, is written, produced and directed by Martin Villeneuve.
Almost entirely shot on green screen, this independent film has a significant amount of visual effects. The project is being financed by Telefilm Canada, SODEC, Les Productions du 8e Art and the Harold Greenberg Fund, and will be distributed in Canada by Alliance Vivafilm
. It is scheduled to open in theaters in 2012.
of the future. As Man is about to set foot on Mars
, a small community of anticybernetics is busy trying to slow down time. Among them is JACOB OBUS (Jacques Languirand
), an emblematic and beloved septuagenarian who creates captivating music on instruments inspired by the female body, designed by his friend ARTHUR (Paul Ahmarani
). Once Jacob and Arthur fall in love with AVRIL (Caroline Dhavernas
), a young and short-winded photographer, the old sex-symbol’s true nature is revealed. Upon discovering love for the first time in his life, Jacob leaves for Mars in search of his muse. In the midst of everything arrives EUGÈNE SPAAK (Robert Lepage
), inventor, cosmologist and Arthur’s father, who maintains that Mars is only a chimera.
comic book artist
François Schuiten
— best known for drawing the series Les Cités Obscures
, published by Casterman
—, who is working on the film as production designer
.
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
, currently in post-production, starring Jacques Languirand
Jacques Languirand
Jacques Languirand is a radio host, writer, actor and director.He has been at the microphone for the same radio show, Par 4 chemins, for more than 40 years. He was awarded the C.M. on December 21, 1987 and the O.C...
, Caroline Dhavernas
Caroline Dhavernas
Caroline Dhavernas is a Canadian actress. Dhavernas is best known in the United States as "Jaye" from the short-lived television series Wonderfalls on Fox. She starred as Dr. Lily Brenner in the ABC medical drama Off the Map.-Life and career:...
, Paul Ahmarani
Paul Ahmarani
Paul Ahmarani is a Quebec actor. He was born from the union of two teachers, one from Cacouna, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Quebec and another from the Mediterranean coast...
and Robert Lepage
Robert Lepage
Robert Lepage, is a playwright, actor, film director, and stage director from Québec City, Québec, and is one of Canada's most honoured theatre artists.- Life and work :...
. The feature film, based on the graphic novels of the same name, is written, produced and directed by Martin Villeneuve.
Almost entirely shot on green screen, this independent film has a significant amount of visual effects. The project is being financed by Telefilm Canada, SODEC, Les Productions du 8e Art and the Harold Greenberg Fund, and will be distributed in Canada by Alliance Vivafilm
Alliance Atlantis
Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. was a Toronto-based media company that operated primarily as a specialty service operator in Canada. Alliance Atlantis also had offices in Halifax, Los Angeles, London, Dublin, Madrid, Barcelona, Shannon and Sydney.Alliance Atlantis was acquired by Canwest...
. It is scheduled to open in theaters in 2012.
Plot
Mars et Avril is quite possibly the first Québécois film set in a MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
of the future. As Man is about to set foot on Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
, a small community of anticybernetics is busy trying to slow down time. Among them is JACOB OBUS (Jacques Languirand
Jacques Languirand
Jacques Languirand is a radio host, writer, actor and director.He has been at the microphone for the same radio show, Par 4 chemins, for more than 40 years. He was awarded the C.M. on December 21, 1987 and the O.C...
), an emblematic and beloved septuagenarian who creates captivating music on instruments inspired by the female body, designed by his friend ARTHUR (Paul Ahmarani
Paul Ahmarani
Paul Ahmarani is a Quebec actor. He was born from the union of two teachers, one from Cacouna, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Quebec and another from the Mediterranean coast...
). Once Jacob and Arthur fall in love with AVRIL (Caroline Dhavernas
Caroline Dhavernas
Caroline Dhavernas is a Canadian actress. Dhavernas is best known in the United States as "Jaye" from the short-lived television series Wonderfalls on Fox. She starred as Dr. Lily Brenner in the ABC medical drama Off the Map.-Life and career:...
), a young and short-winded photographer, the old sex-symbol’s true nature is revealed. Upon discovering love for the first time in his life, Jacob leaves for Mars in search of his muse. In the midst of everything arrives EUGÈNE SPAAK (Robert Lepage
Robert Lepage
Robert Lepage, is a playwright, actor, film director, and stage director from Québec City, Québec, and is one of Canada's most honoured theatre artists.- Life and work :...
), inventor, cosmologist and Arthur’s father, who maintains that Mars is only a chimera.
Production design
Mars et Avril benefits from the collaboration of BelgianFranco-Belgian comics
Franco-Belgian comics are comics that are created in Belgium and France. These countries have a long tradition in comics and comic books, where they are known as BDs, an abbreviation of bande dessinée in French and stripverhalen in Dutch...
comic book artist
Comic Book Artist
Comic Book Artist was an American magazine founded by Jon B. Cooke devoted to anecdotal histories of American comic books, with emphasis on comics published since the 1960s...
François Schuiten
François Schuiten
Baron François Schuiten is a Belgian comic book artist. He is best known for drawing the series Les Cités Obscures.-Biography:François Schuiten was born in Brussels, Belgium in 1956....
— best known for drawing the series Les Cités Obscures
Les Cités Obscures
Les Cités obscures is a graphic novel series set on a Counter-Earth, started by the Belgian comics artist François Schuiten and his friend, writer Benoît Peeters in the early 1980s...
, published by Casterman
Casterman
Casterman is a publisher of Franco-Belgian comics, specializing in comic books and children's literature. The company is based in Tournai, Belgium.Founded in 1780, Casterman was originally a printing company and publishing house...
—, who is working on the film as production designer
Production designer
In film and television, a production designer is the person responsible for the overall look of a filmed event such as films, TV programs, music videos or adverts. Production designers have one of the key creative roles in the creation of motion pictures and television. Working directly with the...
.
Cast
- Jacques LanguirandJacques LanguirandJacques Languirand is a radio host, writer, actor and director.He has been at the microphone for the same radio show, Par 4 chemins, for more than 40 years. He was awarded the C.M. on December 21, 1987 and the O.C...
... Jacob Obus - Caroline DhavernasCaroline DhavernasCaroline Dhavernas is a Canadian actress. Dhavernas is best known in the United States as "Jaye" from the short-lived television series Wonderfalls on Fox. She starred as Dr. Lily Brenner in the ABC medical drama Off the Map.-Life and career:...
... Avril - Paul AhmaraniPaul AhmaraniPaul Ahmarani is a Quebec actor. He was born from the union of two teachers, one from Cacouna, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Quebec and another from the Mediterranean coast...
... Arthur - Robert LepageRobert LepageRobert Lepage, is a playwright, actor, film director, and stage director from Québec City, Québec, and is one of Canada's most honoured theatre artists.- Life and work :...
... Eugène Spaak (head) - Jean Asselin ... Eugène Spaak (body) / Serveur automate
- Stéphane DemersStéphane DemersStéphane Demers is a Canadian actor best known for having portrayed Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in the television mini-series Trudeau II: Maverick in the Making...
... Bernard Brel - Jean Marchand ... Pneumatologue
- Kathleen Fortin ... Modèle d'Arthur
- Marcel Sabourin ... Capucin
- André Montmorency ... Pierrot
- Gabriel Gascon ... Arlequin
- Emanuel Hoss-Desmarais ... Marsonaute 1
- Pierre Leblanc ... Marsonaute 2
- Richard Robitaille ... Marsonaute 3
- Khanh Hua ... Serveur automate
- Michèle DeslauriersMichèle DeslauriersMichèle Deslauriers is a Canadian actress. She is the wife of actor Sébastien Dhavernas and the mother of actress Caroline Dhavernas and voice actress Gabrielle Dhavernas. She also provides the voice, announcing the stops, for the Montreal Metro.- Filmography :* Nic et Pic * Y'a pas de problème ......
... Standardiste (voice) - Denis Gravereaux ... Cosmologue 1
- Charles Papasoff ... Cosmologue 2
- Émilie Blake ... Secrétaire du Pneumatologue
External links
- Mars et Avril on EMA Films' website
- Jacques Languirand dans l'espace, article from La Presse, April 29, 2011
- Mars et Avril sortira en 2012, article from Le Journal de Montréal, April 29, 2011
- Mars et Avril en 2012, April 28, 2011
- Exclusive look at Canadian scifi film MARS ET AVRIL a graphic novel adaptation, article from Quiet Earth, April 4, 2011