With a title of “Montreal Girls” you might surmise this is “A Girl’s Gone Wild” subsidiary. Not the case.
As a native of Montreal for 30 years before escaping as a political refugee to Toronto down Highway 401 to a then sterile city of Toronto any film better capture my former city of habitation or I will get nasty.
Yes Level 33 Entertainment as distributors of the film will be delighted I am no ranting film reviewer!
It seduced me from the beginning and for that matter through the entire film with shots of Montreal that sparked a whole series of pleasant memories particularly the lookout at Mont Royal a favourite former haunt of mine. Then Beaver Lake on Mont Royal. I was in 7th Heaven!
Should you beware of my seduction as corrupting my rational take of this film? Hopefully not. This is a film that could have easily evolved into a sentimental pail of slop but with a inspirational curated soundtrack, right on acting and good screenplay construction it was a winner.
I am not going to delve into the plot lest that deprive you of total enjoyment of the film. Yes we Canadians can make films and act in them! A strong cast throughout with hats off to Hakim Brahimi as the sensitive poet looking for the right direction to his life. Tamer his punky cousin played by Jade Hassouné is a lovable punk rocker with a heart of gold. Sana Asad and Jasmina Parent are perfect if not unobtainable Montreal girls.
Are Montreal girls different than Toronto girls? Not telling you. Montreal and Toronto await you to “research further”.
I had to pinch myself after the film to determine if the Montreal in my blood skewed my thoughts? But as “Montreal Girls” won the best feature film at the Los Angeles International Film Festival no I am not dreaming about the film.
And some most appropriate poetry throughout!
Released in theatres in the United States beginning on 12 May and then VOD on 27June.
Directed by Patricia Chica.
You can see the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1CG324ImAY
RKS 2023 Film Rating 90/100.
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