‘Corbo’, directed by Mathieu Denis, was recently screened in
the International Competition category at the 45th International Film of India,
Goa. While speaking about how Hollywood dominates the cinema in Canada, Mathieu
is glad that his film has been widely appreciated at the different film
festivals that it was screened at.
“I have been working on this film for the past five years; I
had heard the story of Corbo from my father, Andre. He knew about the
happenings as he was of the same age as Corbo when the incident took place. He
personally didn’t know him but gathered his information through newspapers as
the incident made huge waves. When I started going through the papers as I was
curious to know about Corbo, I knew right then that this was the story I would
like to see on film,” says Mathieu about the film that has been to six film
festivals in Canada and now Goa.
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As you work on a biopic, the family members of the subject
get emotionally attached to the story, Mathieu says, “I met the family members
of Jean Corbo and I spoke to them about the film. I also met members of Front
de Libération du Québec (FLQ). Once the film was shot, I had a screening for
them which was the most stressful thing I have done as I didn’t want them to
feel betrayed towards my perspective of Corbo. So when got emotional while
watching the film and told me that they recognised their family in my film. I
was touched.”
Anthony Therrien plays the role of Jean Corbo. “In Canada, there
is a tendency that if the role is of a 16-year-old, a 25-year-old will do it. I
was adamant on having an actor of the same age. I met Anthony and explained to
him the story and its historical setting. We rehearsed a lot as it was
important to understand the psychological state of mind that Corbo would have
be in and to portray the same realistically on screen,” says Mathieu.
‘Corbo’ will be released in March in Quebec, Canada. “Only in
Quebec province because films that are made in French are released in Quebec
and those made outside Quebec are released outside Quebec. There is a cultural
and language difference between Quebec and the rest of Canada,” explains
Mathieu.
