Festivals - Fantasia 2020 : La marina, Quebec Premiere

By Mulder, 11 august 2020

This summer, Charlie Hall may not be able to set foot on a wakeboard again. He was at the top of his game a year ago, but an incident broke his momentum, bringing him back to reality. So he's going to visit his cousin Noah in Chambly for a while, to enjoy the summer by mingling with the local wildlife. He finds himself strolling around the Marina with other young people in their early twenties, where he meets Juliette, a young employee with whom he quickly develops an affinity. But before he can open up to others, Charlie must learn to make peace with himself. Not so easy a task when he is surrounded by distractions, including his rival from the last competition, who prowls around to taunt him. It's a portrait of a summer, love, friends, work, and wakeboarding!

This is the first feature film by directors Étienne Galloy and Christophe Levac, who you probably know for their roles in front of the camera (Avant qu’on explose, Jeune Juliette). Their acting experience is visibly transposed on screen to the direction of actors. The natural interactions between the characters are maintained by a skillful sense of rhythm in the dialogue. The film plunges into the anxieties of jumping into one's twenties, while maintaining a good dose of humour throughout. It's a summer film, a coming-of-age tale, a Quebec Slacker for the 2020s that feels right. With an all-star cast, including Rémi Goulet (JUNIOR MAJOR), Rose-Marie Perreault and Anthony Therrien (Les faux tatouages), La Marina is a feelgood movie to induce nostalgia and supply you with a slice of sunshine. Translation: Rupert Bottenberg

Synopsis :
In the summer of his 19th birthday, Charlie Hall doesn't know if he'll be able to get back on a wakeboard. While he wants to escape the source of his anguish by going to Chambly to his cousin Noah's house, he meets Juliette, a young employee of the local marina. The chemistry works and the two young people develop a unique relationship that only has as obstacles the fear of their ambitions.

La marina
Written and directed by Étienne Galloy, Christophe Levac
Produced by Nicolas Fontaine, Étienne Galloy
Starring Marguerite Bouchard, Rémi Goulet, Rose-Marie Perreault, Madani Tall, Anthony Therrien
Running time : 95mns

(Source : Fantasia 2020 official website)