The Music of the Spheres (G. Philip Jackson, 1983)
Aug
28
1994
Archive footage from the future dated August 28, 1994. DP: Nadine Humenick.
La mort d'un bûcheron [The Death of a Lumberjack] (Gilles Carle, 1973)
Jul
12
1920
Blanche Bellefeuille (Denise Filiatrault) in front of a wall covered in catholic knickknacks. Through a door, nightclub entrepreneur Armand St. Amour (Willie Lamothe) can be seen asleep, his beloved cowboy boots carefully placed next to his improvised bed. DP: René Verzier.
La maudite galette [Dirty Money] (Denys Arcand, 1972)
Jun
16
Berthe (Luce Guilbeault) points a rifle offscreen. Next to her a perpetual wall calendar from Desjardins with the date. It's June 16. DP: Alain Dostie.
Waiting for Fidel (Michael Rubbo, 1974)
Mar
8
International Women's Day
A group of six girls and two boys sing in celebration of International Women's Day. DP: Douglas Kiefer.
Time flies while waiting for Fidel, and before you know it, it's March 8.
Film du Jour posts does not list holidays on their respective date, unless a film or scene happens to take place on one.
Gina [Stone Cold Revenge] (Denys Arcand, 1975)
Dec
11
1952
Gina (Céline Lomez) stripping in front of a silver tinsel curtain. The silhouette of a woman is visible in the foreground. DP: Alain Dostie.
L'ange et la femme [The Angel and the Woman] (Gilles Carle, 1977)
Dec
3
.webp)
Gabriel (Lewis Furey) and the woman he named Fabienne (Carole Laure). DP: François Protat.
A caregiver*
A woman is brutally murdered and taken home by a young man. This man – this angel – takes away her wounds, returns her to life, and nurses her. They fall in love.
* the Bales 2025 Film Challenge for December has a few dateless themes. This is one of them.
“In all my years of practice, I've never seen anything so sweet. A rosebud.”
Sweet Movie (Dušan Makavejev, 1974)
Sep
13
International Chocolate Day
The most virgin, Miss 1984 (Carole Laure), bathing in chocolate. DP: Pierre Lhomme.
Chocolate for International Chocolate Day (Milton S. Hershey's birthday)
– Dr. Mittelfinger
Miss Canada, winner of the “most virgin” contest, escapes her rich, milk tycoon husband into a world of anarchy, lust, and sugar.
“This film tells a story of rebels (played by real rats) and cops (played by real cats). After a long domination by cats, the rats escape from prison (this is their rebellion) and find refuge in Canada. There, they feed on organic produce from a garden where the grass hasn’t been sprayed with DDT.”
Rat Life and Diet in North America (Joyce Wieland, 1968)
Jul
4
Independence Day
Rats – gerbils actually – nibbling on the Stars and Stripes (via). DP: Joyce Wieland.
A movie set in the USA for Independence Day (USA)
– Jonas Mekas, via
French-Canadian patriot Joyce Wieland tells a fable of freedom.
Coincidentally, the Canadian city of Trois-Rivières, scene of the final battle of the American Revolutionary War, also celebrates an Independence Day on the fourth of July.
La maudite galette [Dirty Money] (Denys Arcand, 1972)
Jun
1
Oscar the Grouch Day
Rolland (René Caron) and Berthe (Luce Guilbeault). She's had it with these money troubles. DP: Alain Dostie.
A character who's a grouch for Oscar the Grouch Day (USA)
“sroena evor ssiapon”
Reason Over Passion [La raison avant la passion] (Joyce Wieland, 1969)
May
19
Victoria Day
A winding road. nearos oevr isoasnp. DP: Joyce Wieland.
A movie made or set in Canada for Victoria Day (Canada)
– Pierre Trudeau
Joyce Wieland's heart and camera travel from the Canadian east coast all the way to the west. Cars drive by, suns set, suns rise, and Pierre Trudeau's motto rings on in 537 permutations.