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Mars & Avril
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Wikipedia article
'Mars & Avril' (French: 'Mars et Avril') is a 2012 Canadian science fiction film starring Jacques Languirand, Caroline Dhavernas, Paul Ahmarani and Robert Lepage. The movie, based on the photo-novels of the same name published by Sid Lee & la Pastque,[https://www.bulbapp.com/u/mars-et-avril-leaps-off-the-pages-of-graphic-novels 'Mars et Avril' leaps off the pages of graphic novels], article from BULB[https://www.facebook.com/MarsEtAvril/photos/a.323036404437151/1430073543733426/?type=3&theater 'Mars et Avril': the precarious jump from Graphic Novel to Cinema], article from UCalgaryBlogs.ca, 8 April 2013[http://www.quietearth.us/articles/2011/04/04/Exclusive-look-at-Candian-scifi-film-MARS-ET-AVRIL-a-graphic-novel-adaptation Exclusive look at Canadian scifi film MARS ET AVRIL a graphic novel adaptation], article from Quiet Earth, 4 April 2011[https://vimeo.com/318535782 Martin Villeneuve Graphic Novels Interviews (2002-2004)] on Vimeo is written, produced and directed by Martin Villeneuve.[http://globalnews.ca/news/170313/denis-villeneuves-brother-martin-imagines-future-montreal-with-mars-et-avril/ Denis Villeneuve's brother Martin imagines future Montreal with 'Mars et Avril'], article from 'Canadian Press', 26 October 2011
The film was shot on a budget of C$2.3 million and featured numerous green screen effects. Belgian comic book artist Franois Schuiten is the production designer, former ILM Senior Compositor Carlos Monzon worked as VFX supervisor, and Benot Charest composed the original score.[https://variety.com/2012/film/reviews/mars-and-april-1117947906/ 'Mars and April' // 'Mars & Avril'], review from 'Variety', 16 July 2012 The film was financed by Telefilm Canada, SODEC, Les Productions du 8e Art and the Harold Greenberg Fund, and is distributed in Canada by Alliance Vivafilm (now owned by eOne) and in the United States by Gaiam. The official trailer was released in Quebec theatres and on Alliance Vivafilm's YouTube channel on 21 December 2011.
The world premiere took place on 2 July 2012 at the 47th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Czech Republic (the film was selected in the section "Another View" for its unique artistic approach in both form and content).[http://www.quietearth.us/articles/2012/06/Stunning-Canadian-scifi-flick-MARS-ET-AVRIL-premiering-at-Karlovy-Vary Stunning Canadian sci-fi flick MARS ET AVRIL premiering at Karlovy Vary], article from Quiet Earth, 16 June 2012 Since then, the film has been screened in twenty other major cinema events around the globe and has received 10 nominations.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1638277/awards?ref_=tt_awd 'Mars et Avril' Awards & Nominations page on IMDb] Martin Villeneuve was nominated for "Best Adapted Screenplay" at the 2013 Canadian Screen Awards, and he also won an "Imaging the Future Award" at the Neuchtel International Fantasy Film Festival in Switzerland. In addition, Villeneuve gave a TED Talk about his film at TED2013 in Long Beach, California, thereby becoming the first speaker to come out of Qubec.[http://www.ted.com/talks/martin_villeneuve_how_i_made_an_impossible_film.html "Martin Villeneuve: How I made an impossible film"], TED, 7 June 2013
Synopsis
In Montral, in the near future, humanity is about to set foot on Mars. Jacob Obus (Jacques Languirand), a charismatic musician, takes pride in slowing down time by playing instruments inspired by women's bodies, designed by his friend, Arthur (Paul Ahmarani). A love triangle develops when Jacob and Arthur both fall in love with Avril (Caroline Dhavernas), a young photographer. Enter Eugne Spaak (Robert Lepage), inventor, cosmologist and Arthur's father, who unveils a new theory about man's desire to reach Mars and helps Jacob find the true meaning of life and love.
Cast
Production
Development
In 2005, Robert Lepage optioned the rights to Martin Villeneuve's 'Mars et Avril' photo novels through his Quebec city-based motion picture company, Films Ex quo (who had already produced 'The Far Side of the Moon' in 2003), with the intent of adapting them into a science fiction feature film. While Villeneuve was to write the script, Lepage was attached to the project as producer and as an actor.[https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/actualites-culturelles/120572/du-papier-glace-au-grand-ecran Du papier glac au grand cran], article from 'Le Devoir', 17 October 2006 A year later, Lepage shut down Films Ex quo.[https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/cinema/113218/cinema-robert-lepage-ferme-sa-boite-de-production-ex-aequo Robert Lepage ferme sa bote de production Ex aequo], article from 'Le Devoir', 8 July 2006 Nevertheless, he strongly encouraged Villeneuve to produce and direct the film himself.[http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2012/10/03/amour-et-science-fiction Amour et science-fiction], article from 'Le Journal de Montral', 6 October 2012 Villeneuve took over the project, while Lepage remained involved as an actor and creative producer.In 2008, SODEC, Telefilm Canada, The Harold Greenberg Fund and Alliance Vivafilm decided to finance the production.
Due to the film's significant amount of visual effects, an extensive year of pre-production was necessary. In pre-production, Schuiten made some sketches of the sets and, in post-production, he oversaw the visual coherence of the whole film while acting as art direction consultant.[http://www.ztele.com/cinema/mars-et-avril-entrevue-exclusive-avec-martin-villeneuve-1.1078163 Entrevue exclusive avec Martin Villeneuve], Z-tl, 11 October 2012 Since the film was to be shot almost entirely on green screen, in only 25 days and on a very tight budget of C$2.3 million, preparation was key to making it work. The 1200 shots were hand-drawn as storyboards and then edited with the dialogues in a detailed, two-hour-long animatic that mapped out every detail before shooting.[http://www.efilmcritic.com/feature.php?feature=3471 Whistler Film Festival 2012 Interview - 'Mars & Avril' director Martin Villeneuve], eFilmCritic.com, 1 December 2012 Villeneuve went to Brussels in May 2008 to work with Schuiten, then Schuiten came to Montreal twice to follow up: in September 2008 and December 2011. Throughout filming and post-production, the two men touch-based as often as they could through Skype.[https://www.bulbapp.com/b/unit/528d21abe4b044ec67e2290e Franois Schuiten: The Watchmaker of Dreams], Martin Villeneuve's BULB page, 2 December 2013 A brainstorming session between Villeneuve and Schuiten is available as the audio commentary on the DVD.[https://www.amazon.ca/Mars-Avril-Jacques-Languirand/dp/B00AWDXCRS 'Mars et Avril' DVD on Amazon Canada], 19 March 2013
Design
In 2007, Villeneuve contacted famed Belgian comic book artist Franois Schuiten, who accepted the position of production designer.[http://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/nouvelles/201207/17/01-4545500-voyage-a-travers-le-montreal-de-demain.php Voyage travers le Montral de demain], article from 'La Presse', 8 December 2011 Schuiten had already worked on such films as 'Toto le Hros', 'The Golden Compass' and 'Mr. Nobody'. The filmmaker wanted the source of his inspiration to play a direct role in the creation of the film rather than try to mimic his style. For a scene taking place inside the Temple of Cosmologists, Schuiten agreed to have a 3D model made of the futuristic auditorium from 'Fever in Urbicand', a volume in his 'Les Cits Obscures' series. Villeneuve had this image in mind when writing the photo novel. For the shooting of this scene, extras were chosen who looked like the characters from Schuiten's graphic novel.Villeneuve could not afford to have the imaginary musical instruments used in the film built, so he went to Cirque du Soleil CEO Guy Lalibert and convinced him to buy them before they were even made. When Lalibert saw Villeneuve's TED Talk on 7 June 2013, he offered the filmmaker the "Gravophone" which is seen in the talk.[https://www.bulbapp.com/b/unit/529a9381e4b06b04ceb5791b Trivia & Fun facts about the film], BULB, 2 December 2013 Lalibert has thereby financed the creation of the instruments sculpted by artist Dominique Engel.
Casting
Most of the actors who appeared in the photo novels (most notably Jacques Languirand, Robert Lepage, Paul Ahmarani and Stphane Demers) reprised their roles in the film, with the exception of Marie-Jose Croze (who portrayed the lead female character in the books), due to a schedule conflict. Caroline Dhavernas, who along with Croze was a roommate of Villeneuve during his college years,[https://www.lenouvelliste.ca/archives/martin-villeneuve-lambition-de-la-science-fiction-4a16aab5537ff83149a7a005914a5690 Martin Villeneuve : l'ambition de la science-fiction], article from 'Le Nouvelliste', 21 January 2012 was then hired to play the part of Avril.[https://archive.today/20130103201622/http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/movie-guide/Mars+Avril+leaps+page/7343626/story.html?fb_action_ids=493569337328800&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582 "'Mars et Avril' leaps off the page"], article from 'The Gazette', 5 October 2012 Her mother Michle Deslauriers, provided the Montreal Teleportation Service's voice in the film (she is also the voice of the real life metro service).Filming
Principal photographyThe film was almost entirely shot on green screen, in 25 days, using the RED digital camera.[http://www.quietearth.us/articles/2012/02/A-conversation-with-director-Martin-Villeneuve-and-an-English-subbed-MARS-ET-AVRIL Martin Villeneuve talks MARS ET AVRIL + English subbed trailer!], article from Quiet Earth, 16 February 2012
Since Robert Lepage only had a few days available for filming, Villeneuve turned his character into a hologram and had another actor wearing a green hood stand in for his scenes during principal photography. An avant-garde 3D capturing technique was used to integrate him virtually into his scenes as a hologram. Six cameras were trained on Lepage's head while a mime, Jean Asselin, portrayed the body.[http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2012/10/10/robert-lepage-de-retour-au-cinema Robert Lepage de retour au cinma], article from 'Le Journal de Montral', 13 October 2012 The character became a cosmologist whose research into virtual technologies has extended to bold experiments on himself. His head is actually a hologram, with all of his ideas, memories and thoughts stored electronically.[http://globalnews.ca/news/194482/cronenbergs-son-brandon-villeneuves-brother-martin-debut-in-2012-2/ Cronenberg's son Brandon, Villeneuve's brother Martin debut in 2012], article from 'Canadian Press', 30 December 2011Robert Lepage : L'homme-orchestre, article from 'France-Amrique', October 2012[http://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/cinema-quebecois/201210/11/01-4582197-robert-lepage-projete-dans-lavenir.php Robert Lepage projet dans l'avenir], article from 'La Presse', 11 October 2012 Additionally, in order to work around Lepage's extremely tight schedule, principal photography took place in Montreal in two segments; the first was in September 2008, and the second in April 2009.[http://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/nouvelles/201207/17/01-4546666-mars-et-avril-jacques-languirand-dans-lespace.php Jacques Languirand dans l'espace], article from 'La Presse', 29 April 2011
This was radio host Jacques Languirand's first leading role in a feature film. Nearly 80 years old at the time, and being hard of hearing, he wore an ear-piece so that his wife, Nicole Dumais, could feed him his lines off set.[https://vimeo.com/319120631 The 'Mars & Avril' Experience (22-minute Making Of) on Vimeo], 2013 When performing on the stage of the Liquid Pub with the band of old musicians played by Marcel Sabourin, Andr Montmorency and Gabriel Gascon, all cultural icons of Quebec like himself, they received a standing ovation from the 50 extras present during the shooting that lasted several minutes. The first assistant director had to stop the applause so as not fall behind schedule.
The Martian backgrounds were taken by photographer Denis McCready in the Mojave Desert using a panoramic film camera. The exact location is near Trona Pinnacles where several sci-fi movies and TV series were filmed including 'Battlestar Galactica', 'Star Trek V: The Final Frontier', 'The Gate II', 'Lost in Space' and 'Planet of the Apes'.
The scene where Jacob and Arthur are leaving for Mars is inspired by one of Villeneuve's childhood memories: when he was 4 or 5 years old, his older brothers (including Denis Villeneuve) put him in a box and made him believe that he made a space travel on his way to Mars.[https://vimeo.com/325546021 'Mars et Avril' Interviews (2011-2013)] on Vimeo[http://www.radio-canada.ca/emissions/bouillant_de_culture/2011-2012/chronique.asp?idChronique=200249 Mission accomplie] Interview with Martin Villeneuve on 'Bouillant de culture', 4 February 2012
Editing
By the end of 2009, the editing of a first cut was assembled. In 2010, Martin Villeneuve searched for new investments in order to complete the 550 VFX shots involved in the film. In early 2011, Anne-Marie Glinas and Benot Beaulieu joined Villeneuve as producers.[https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=382319801842144&set=a.323036404437151.75132.127057354035058&type=3&theater On me disait que c'tait impossible], article from 'Qui fait Quoi', 31 January 2012 Telefilm Canada and Alliance Vivafilm both accepted to raise their initial investment, and so did Robert Lepage and Lynda Beaulieu though their new Quebec city-based motion picture company, Les Productions du 8e Art. At this point, Pierre Even and Marie-Claude Poulin from Item 7 also joined the team as executive producers.[http://elephant.canoe.ca/nouvelles/i-mars-et-avril-i-sortira-en-2012_3276/ 'Mars et Avril' sortira en 2012], article from 'Le Journal de Montral', 29 April 2011
Re-shoot
In March 2011, exactly two years after principal photography was completed, a re-shoot took place at Lepage's request. The scene in which Jacob and Avril make love was shot in Languirand's actual bedroom. The final cut of the film was completed during the summer of the same year.[http://www.cineplex.com/Nouvelles/Mars-et-Avril-selon-Caroline-Dhavernas.aspx 'Mars et Avril' selon Caroline Dhavernas], article from Cineplex Magazine, October 2012 Montreal-based post-production company Vision Globale (under the supervision of former ILM Senior Compositor Carlos Monzon) then started the visual effects and sound design.
Music
Benot Charest was tasked with scoring the music.[http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2012/02/09/le-pari-fou-de-martin-villeneuve Le pari fou de Martin Villeneuve], article from 'Le Journal de Montral', 9 February 2012 Charest's score was composed according to Johannes Kepler's cosmological theory, 'Harmonices Mundi', in which the harmony of the universe is determined by the motion of celestial bodies, referenced in the film's opening voiced by Robert Lepage.[https://vimeo.com/66697472 'Mars et Avril' Opening Sequence], on Vimeo[http://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/cinema-quebecois/entrevues/201210/06/01-4580918-martin-villeneuve-et-mars-et-avril-science-fiction-romantique.php Science-fiction romantique], article from 'La Presse', 6 October 2012Marketing and related works
The official trailer[https://vimeo.com/52035800 'Mars et Avril' Trailer in HD] on Vimeo was released in Quebec theatres and on Alliance Vivafilm's YouTube channel on 21 December 2011.[http://io9.com/5870582/breathtaking-trailer-for-a-movie-about-the-only-man-who-doesnt-want-to-go-live-on-mars Breathtaking trailer for a movie about the only man who doesn't want to go live on Mars], article from 'io9', 22 December 2011 The official poster,[http://www.impawards.com/intl/canada/2012/mars_et_avril.html 'Mars et Avril' - Theatrical Movie Poster] on IMP Awards designed by Franois Schuiten, was revealed online on 11 March 2012, once the film was entirely completed.[http://www.altaplana.be/dictionary/mars_et_avril? 'Mars et Avril' on Alta-Plana]
The first in a series of production videos unveiling the film's creation was released online 16 August 2012. A 22-minute "Making of" was aired on ARTV in October 2012 in order to promote the release of the film, and is now available .[http://emag.co.uk/dazzling-other-worldly-new-sci-fi-fantasy-film-mars-et-avril-the-impossible-movie-debuts-exclusively-on-gaiam-tv/25849 Dazzling Other-Worldly New Sci-Fi Fantasy Film, 'Mars et Avril', The Impossible Movie Debuts Exclusively On Gaiam TV], article from emag.co.uk, 8 January 2014
TED Talk
On 27 February 2013, Martin Villeneuve gave a TED Talk about 'Mars et Avril' at TED2013,[http://blog.ted.com/2013/06/07/10-jaw-dropping-images-from-the-film-mars-et-avril-and-how-the-magic-was-created/ 10 jaw-dropping images from the film "Mars et Avril," and how the magic was created], article from the official TED Blog, 7 June 2013[http://blog.ted.com/2013/02/27/a-sci-fi-film-with-a-2-million-budget-martin-villeneuve-at-ted2013/ A sci-fi film with a $2 million budget: Martin Villeneuve at TED2013], article from the official TED Blog, 27 February 2013 thereby becoming the very first French Canadian speaker invited to this prestigious event that took place in Long Beach, California.[http://cultmontreal.com/2013/06/quebecs-first-ted-talk-martin-villeneuve-chris-anderson/ Quebec's first TED Talk], article from Cult Montreal, 7 June 2013[http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2391202597 CBC C'est La Vie "Quebec filmmaker gives a TED Talk"] Prior to his talk, the opening sequence of the film was shown, as well as a three minute overview[https://vimeo.com/61147709 'Mars et Avril' Creating the Visual Effects (TED2013)] on Vimeo of the steps leading from the green screen to the final images.[https://www.indiewire.com/2013/09/four-ted-talks-every-filmmaker-should-watch-34715/ Four TED talks every filmmaker should watch], article from IndieWire, 23 September 2013[https://filmschoolrejects.com/3-things-you-need-to-make-an-impossible-movie-b8680cd17605/ 3 Things You Need to Make an Impossible Movie], article from Film School Rejects, 1 July 2013[http://nofilmschool.com/2013/06/making-an-impossible-film-how-director-martin-villeneuve-brought-his-sci-fi-drama-to-life/ Making an Impossible Film: How Director Martin Villeneuve Brought His Sci-Fi Drama to Life], article from No Film School, 14 June 2013 Martin Villeneuve's talk, "How I made an impossible film," was released on TED.com on 7 June 2013, and a month later was added to TED's movie magic list, featuring famed directors such as James Cameron and J. J. Abrams.[http://blog.ted.com/2013/01/04/8-talks-about-the-making-of-movie-magic/ 10 talks about the making of movie magic] The talk has been viewed more than a million times across all platforms and subtitled in 30 languages. Since then, 'Mars et Avril' has been referred to as the "Impossible Film".[http://www.quietearth.us/articles/2013/06/Making-the-Impossible-Film-Martin-Villeneuve-on-MARS-ET-AVRIL-Video Making the Impossible Film. Martin Villeneuve on MARS ET AVRIL], article from Quiet Earth, 10 June 2013[https://guestlist.net/article/91297/martin-villeneuve-makes-the-impossible-happen Martin Villeneuve makes the impossible happen], Guestlist, 6 March 2017Release
The world premiere took place on 2 July 2012 at the 47th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic (the film was selected in the section "Another View" for its "unique" artistic approach in both form and content). In Canada, the film was first shown at the Atlantic Film Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia on 15 September 2012. 'Mars et Avril' was given a theatrical release in Quebec on 12 October 2012.[http://info-culture.biz/2012/08/23/mars-et-avril-en-salles-des-le-12-octobre-prochain/ MARS ET AVRIL - En salles ds le 12 octobre prochain !], news release from Alliance Vivafilm, 23 August 2012[https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/cinema/357701/cinema-quebecois-floraison-automnale Cinma qubcois - Floraison automnale], article from 'Le Devoir', 25 August 2012
Festivals
* 27 September 2014: Festival du Film Canadien, Dieppe (closing gala)* 22 March 2014: FICG Festival Internacional de Cine, Guadalajara, Mexico
* 29 September 2013: Lund Fantastisk Film Festival, Lund, Sweden
* 22 September 2013: UTOPIA Tel-Aviv International Festival of Fantastic Film, Tel-Aviv
* 22 September 2013: Festival de Cinma de la Ville de Qubec & Vitesse Lumire
* 9 July 2013: Neuchtel International Fantastic Film Festival
* 5 May 2013: Sci-Fi London Film Festival, London[https://screenanarchy.com/2013/05/sci-fi-london-2013-review-mars-et-avril.html Sci-Fi London 2013 Review: MARS ET AVRIL Deserves Greater Attention], Screen Anarchy, 8 May 2013
* 14 April 2013: Imagine Film Festival, Amsterdam
* 3 April 2013: Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, ("7th Orbit" 2013 international competition)[http://35.passage.des.sons.over-blog.com/article-bifff-2013-mars-avril-un-souffle-frais-d-outre-atlantique-118716605.html BIFFF 2013 'Mars & Avril' : un souffle frais d'outre-Atlantique], 'Discordance', 7 April 2013[http://www.senscritique.com/film/Mars_et_Avril/critique/21305195 BIFFF 2013 Critique de 'Mars & Avril'], 'Sens critique', 4 April 2013
* 23 February 2013: Rendez-vous du cinma qubcois, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
* 11 February 2013: Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival, Boston (opening film)
* 6 December 2012: Monsters and Martians International Film Festival, Toronto (opening film)
* 1 December 2012: Whistler Film Festival (Section / Film Type: "Discoveries")[http://whistlerfilmfestival.com/wff-ted-talks-martin-villeneuve-impossible-film/ From WFF to TED Talks: Martin Villeneuve and his Impossible Film], ALUMNI NEWS 28 September 2016
* 21 October 2012: Mumbai Film Festival, India
* 11 October 2012: Festival du Nouveau Cinma, Montreal (opening film of the FOCUS section)
* 5 October 2012: Mill Valley Film Festival, California (U.S. premiere)[http://prod3.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=41793~abd343d4-8a7b-4bcf-85f6-7bbcdc551e25&epguid=d328d76e-b432-49ce-97ff-8801229ed4e3 'Mars et Avril' page on the MVFF's official site]
* 29 September 2012: Calgary International Film Festival (closing gala)
* 17 September 2012: Cinfest Sudbury International Film Festival[http://cinefest.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/marsetavril_martinvilleneuve_cinefest2012/ 'Mars et Avril' review on the CSIFF's official site]
* 15 September 2012: Atlantic Film Festival in Halifax (Canadian premiere)
* 2 July 2012: Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, (World premiere; section "Another View")[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1638277/releaseinfo?ref_=tt_ov_inf 'Mars et Avril' Release Info page on IMDb]
Distribution
Domestic home media, streaming, and soundtrackThe DVD of the film as well as the digital version on iTunes[https://itunes.apple.com/ca/movie/mars-et-avril-subtitled/id595759783?ign-mpt=uo%3D2 'Mars et Avril' in HD on iTunes Canada], 19 March 2013 were released in Canada through Alliance Vivafilm on 19 March 2013,[http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/Dvd/mars_et_avril-directed_by_martin_villeneuve 'Mars et Avril', Directed by Martin Villeneuve], DVD review from Exclaim.ca, 21 March 2013[https://www.facebook.com/MarsEtAvril/photos/a.323036404437151.75132.127057354035058/609762099097912/?type=3&theater MARS ET AVRIL - DVD], DVD review from PressPlus1.com, 19 March 2013 along with Benot Charest's original soundtrack and the trailer music composed by Ramachandra Borcar.[https://soundcloud.com/ramborcar_composer/mars-et-avril-bande-annonce#play 'Mars et Avril' (Bande Annonce / Original Trailer Music)], 19 March 2013 Following Charest's Flix win of Album of the Year on 22 October 2013 at the ADISQ Gala, a limited edition of 300 vinyl records were released by Simone Records as a nod to the retro-futuristic look of the film.[https://www.bulbapp.com/u/ben-charest-how-music-can-set-you-free Benot Charest: How music can set you free], BULB, 2 December 2013
International distribution
In September 2013, 'Mars et Avril' was sold to the U.S. and is now available on Amazon,[https://www.amazon.com/Mars-Avril-Martin-Villeneuve/dp/B00I8H5FQG 'Mars et Avril' in HD on Amazon], December 2013 on iTunes,[https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/mars-avril/id1152699877?ign-mpt=uo%3D5 'Mars & Avril' in HD on iTunes], December 2013 on Google Play[https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Mars_et_Avril?id=EmyBDXOG3d0 'Mars & Avril' in HD on Google Play], December 2013 and on GaiamTV.[http://www.gaiamtv.com/video/mars-et-avril 'Mars et Avril' on GaiamTV], 13 September 2013[http://io9.com/spend-the-weekend-watching-the-impossible-and-beautifu-1478078859 Spend the weekend watching the impossible (and beautiful) 'Mars & Avril'], review from 'io9', 6 December 2013 The film is also available on iTunes in the UK, and all across Francophone Europe, among other digital platforms.[https://www.bulbapp.com/b/unit/528bfd16e4b0083c00010e4f A futuristic tale of fantasy and desire], BULB, 2 December 2013
Reception
Commercial performance
In February 2016, it was announced that the crew members, for the first time ever in their career, had received a cheque for a film they made with a deferred pay. An art-house indie film that makes its money back is probably a first in Quebec. This is thanks to the work of the American distributor, but mainly to Martin Villeneuve's TED Talk which attracts many viewers to see the film online on platforms such as iTunes and Amazon.[https://cozysweatercafe.wordpress.com/2016/08/23/martin-villeneuve-the-dreammaker/ Martin Villeneuve: The Dreammaker], The Cozy Sweater Caf, 23 August 2016Critical response
'Mars et Avril' received generally positive reviews after its release in Quebec.[https://www.ledevoir.com/culture/cinema/361291/amours-futuristes-et-emois-metaphysiques Amours futuristes et mois mtaphysiques], review from 'Le Devoir', 13 October 2012[https://archive.today/20131215220246/http://www2.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/movies/story.html?id=2b6ac7a7-b119-4efa-81f3-710b529394a3&p=1 An unforgettable ride through a futuristic Montreal], review from 'The Gazette', 12 October 2012[http://www.nightlife.ca/2012/10/11/mars-et-avril-romance-cosmique-dans-un-montreal-futuriste-ou-teleportation-et-disques-v 'Mars et Avril' : romance cosmique dans un Montral futuriste o tlportation et disques vinyles co-existent], review from 'Night Life', 11 October 2012[http://www.journaldequebec.com/2012/10/10/une-reussite-visuelle Une russite visuelle], review from 'Le Journal de Montral', 10 October 2012 The film also received mostly positive reviews upon its release in the international festival circuit, starting with a world premiere in Karlovy Vary.[https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-latest/mars-and-april/5044356.article 'Mars and April'], review from 'Screen Daily', 13 July 2012[http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2012/07/02/bel-accueil-pour-mars-et-avril Bel accueil pour 'Mars et Avril'], article from 'Le Journal de Montral', 3 July 2012 Brendan Kelly from 'The Gazette' gave it 4.5 stars out of 5 and called it "light-hearted and inspired!" He wrote: "There's a sly wit at work here that's one of the reasons I so liked 'Mars et Avril'. It doesn't take itself too seriously while tackling some pretty weighty themes, like the nature of inspiration, the relationship between love and sensuality and the notion of how music can set you free. () An extraordinary universe that's remarkably inventive and impossible to forget." Mark Adams from 'Screen Daily' was also quite enthusiastic, and described the settings as a "stunning futuristic Montreal, lovingly produced via the special effects, creating an unworldly and dreamy future city that fits perfectly with the graphic novel style." But Adams also noted that "the audience for the film will be relatively niche. This type of esoteric sci-fi such as Enki Bilal's 2004 film 'Immortal (Ad Vitam)' works well in France and with fans of comics anthology 'Metal Hurlant' and similar graphic novels, but rarely breaks out into the mainstream."
In his review for 'Sight & Sound', Anton Bitel was ecstatic: "My favourite film of the festival (and one of the year!) was Martin Villeneuves 'Mars et Avril', an oneiric space opera of a kind that, had he had access to CGI, no doubt Jean Cocteau would have made. So much in this film is vibrantly original and odd. How many future-set films exist that are in no way dystopian, that feature not a single moment of violence, and that have a 75-year-old virgin musician as their hero? () With its robot bartenders, dream machines, teleportation devices, missions to Mars and sleek steampunk sets, Villeneuves astonishing debut has all the furnishings of science fiction, yet in breaking down the barriers between science, art, philosophy and religion it becomes something much more than a mere genre piece. Its a meta-cosmo-poem with musical accompaniment, photographic imagery and much male longing and loneliness which makes it a pioneering exploration of the outer limits not just of Canadian filmmaking in particular (which has never before produced something so grandly rich and strange) and cinema in general, but also of the SF and fantasy genres themselves, here made to accommodate the broadest of human concerns."
Online reviews also praised the film. Writing for 'Twitch Film', Shelagh M. Rowan-Legg claimed that it "deserves greater attention", adding: "Oh, what a wonderful, rich, glorious treat of a film 'Mars et Avril' is. A sci-fi steam-punk romance with a terrific score, it is a delight to the senses. Visually stunning, melodramatic in its storytelling, and unafraid to delve into deep philosophical musings." Esther Inglis-Arkell from sci-fi authority 'io9' gave it her two thumbs up: "'Mars et Avril' is a movie that will surprise you. It has to, as every time it seems to go one way, it will twist off in a new direction. It will also give your eyes a good time () It looks beautiful and it looks different. This movie took seven years to make and inspired a TED talk about how to make an 'impossible' film. It's also one of the most beautiful, and immersive, science fiction worlds on film." Jay Seaver from 'efilmcritic.com' called it a "thoroughly funky French-Canadian sci-fi!", and wrote: "All of this put together is a small, colorful delight the funny bits come and go quickly enough to get their chuckles and not wear out their welcome, the whole thing is pretty, and the story that eventually gets told has some heft to it without ever losing sight of the film's goal of being entertaining."[http://www.efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=24768&reviewer=371 'Mars et Avril'], review from eFilmCritic.com, 11 February 2013
Upon the DVD release, Scott A. Gray from 'Exclaim!' encouraged viewers to bring the film home and wrote: "With his bold, breath-taking big screen debut, Martin Villeneuve has proven himself a vital new voice for intelligent and emotional science fiction. Based on his graphic novels, 'Mars et Avril' is a stunning accomplishment, not just for a first-time filmmaker, but for the genre, and especially for a project with such a modest budget. Its distinct visual grandeur is matched (and surpassed) only by the boundless creativity and thoughtfulness of the story this is a piece of motion art absolutely brimming with ideas. () 'Mars et Avril' is an absolute must-see for viewers more interested in engaging with thought-provoking concepts than passively watching generic linear action unfold."
Accolades
;Awards* 11 February 2013: Boston Sci-Fi Film Festival, United States Honorable mention for "incredible post-production work".
* 9 July 2013: Neuchtel International Fantastic Film Festival, Switzerland (international competition) Imaging the Future Award.
* 22 October 2013: Benot Charest won the Flix in the category "Album of the year original soundtrack" at the ADISQ Gala.
;Nominations
* Canadian Screen Awards, 2013:
** Achievement in Music Original Score (Benot Charest)
** Achievement in Overall Sound (Pascal Beaudin, Daniel Bisson, Luc Boudrias, Olivier Calvert)
** Achievement in Visual Effects (Vision Globale)
** Best Adapted Screenplay (Martin Villeneuve)
* Jutra Awards 2013:
** Best Art Direction (Franois Schuiten, lisabeth Williams, Martin Tessier, Patrick Sioui)
** Best Sound (Pascal Beaudin, Luc Boudrias, Olivier Calvert)
** Best Costume Design (Mariane Carter)
** Best Hairstyling (Richard Hansen)
** Best Score (Benot Charest)
* 23 February 2013: Rendez-vous du cinma qubcois, Montreal, Quebec, Canada In competition for the Gilles-Carle Award.
* 9 July 2013: Neuchtel International Fantastic Film Festival, Switzerland (international competition) Narcisse Award for Best Feature Film.
References
Buy Mars & Avril now from Amazon
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