Watching Far Side of the Moon | La Face cachée de la lune wasn't just about seeing another Canadian film. The film is part of an ongoing quest to see Canada's entries for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards. I was also curious about Robert Lepage, a prominent person who I have run across in my Quebecois film research.
Lepage is as prominent as you can get in Far Side of the Moon | La Face cachée de la lune. He wrote the play, the adapated screenplay, directed the film, and plays both brothers.
Philippe is the uptight older brother held back by his unusual thesis on narcissism in the U.S./USSR space race. André is the younger brother, a gay television weatherman who struggles with empathy. They deal with the loss of their mother mostly through repression.
We later find out that there is a significant age difference between the brothers, yet are both played by Lepage. The move appears odd but could be symbolic for the internal battle of each brother knowing the other one is their only living relative.
The film mostly focuses on Philippe, an admitted sad sack tortured by his own self-destructive behaviour. André is more self-absorbed but a lot more fun on the screen.
Philippe is at his best when making a video for a contest where aliens would learn about society on Earth. He then explains his world to those alien life forms.
The film says a lot that is likely meaningful. Paying close attention means you will almost certainly fall short of what the film is trying to say. There is a lot going on: this film is best enjoyed as is. Thinking will not help.
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Lepage also acted in the Denys Arcand films Jesus of Montreal and Stardom.
Seeing this film now extends my own personal streak to the last 16 Canadian entries for the Best Foreign Language Film to 2003 and The Barbarian Invasions. There are only 3 films missing since Cosmos (1997): August 32nd on Earth (1998); Emporte-Moi | Set Me Free (1999); and Un crabe dans la tête (2002). I have had the first 2 films on my list for some time.
The film received 4 Genie nominations in 2004: Best Picture; Best Director; Best Actor; and Best Adapted Screenplay. Lepage won the Best Adapted Screenplay award.
Far Side of the Moon | La Face cachée de la lune was available via Amazon Prime with a rental fee.
video credit: YouTube/TrailersENG04
photo credit: Far Side of the Moon | La Face cachée de la lune film
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