Polytechnique (2009)
Genre: Drama / Crime
Duration: 77 minuten
Country:
Canada
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Stars: Maxim Gaudette, Sébastien Huberdeau and Karine Vanasse
IMDb score:
7,2 (21.330)
Releasedate: 6 February 2009
Polytechnique plot
A day in the life of two students, named Valérie and Jean-François. On this day their lives changed forever when a young man entered the school with only one thought in his head; commit suicide and take as many women with them as possible.
Actors and actresses
The Assassin
Jean-François
Valérie
Stéphanie
Jean-François (voice)
Jean-François' Mother
Jean-François' Mother (voice)
Éric
Mr. Martineau
Injured Student at Copier
Reviews & comments
IH88
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- 9780 messages
- 3194 votes
Polytechnique
This film really makes a deep impression. Villeneuve once again shows what a fantastic director he is. Polytechnique is loosely based on the 1989 shooting at a Technical University in Montreal. A young man hates feminists and decides to kill as many female victims as possible at an engineering school.
It is sometimes sickening what you see and Villeneuve knows how to make a big impression with his characteristic penetrating approach. It is all filmed in black and white and the camera is close to the actors. Compliments also for the beautiful soundtrack that, together with the black and white images, creates an atmospheric whole. Gaudette, Vanasse and Huberdeau are very strong as the shooter, a survivor and a witness, respectively. You really learn something about the characters, which makes the emotional impact great. And the aftermath is shown, which I also think is a plus. That last part is certainly not subtle, but the message that Villeneuve wants to convey is beautiful and meaningful (new life vs. the gruesome murders). With the end credits showing the names of the real victims as an impressive tribute.
Translated from Dutch · View original
scorsese
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- 13430 messages
- 11264 votes
Excellent film about a deadly school shooting in Montreal. Based on a true story. Of course, a comparison with Elephant is inevitable and the latter just wins. Fairly penetrating here and there and, above all, attractively depicted with beautiful black and white camera work. A narrow 4.0 stars.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
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- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
The comparison with Elephant (Film, 2003) is not far off. I actually didn't know what movie this was at first. Then you come into the film quite brutally. I was shocked. It was a flash forward and then immediately started chronologically.
Very raw film about a young student who sows death and destruction on a campus in Montreal with his gun. It is a maze of corridors and takes place entirely indoors. I thought it was delivered strongly and you feel that Villeneuve had a lot to offer.
I thought it was striking how the shooting evolved. The school consists of many cubicles and long stereotypical corridors. Many did not even realize that there had already been gunshots and casualties. The film gets an extra dirty edge because the perpetrator did not target random victims, but specifically targeted women whom he invariably called feminists.
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