Christian. Raymond. Antoine. Zac. Yvan.
These 5 brothers form the title C.R.A.Z.Y. but the film is really about Zac, the fourth of the 5 brothers. Zac (Marc-André Grondin) comes into this world on Christmas Day in 1959.
Zac and his father Gervais (Michel Côté) have a good relationship. Something a young boy strives to have with his father. Zac is worried understandably that his father won't accept him for being gay.
Zac tries to hide this with a "relationship" with his friend Michelle (Natasha Thompson), who is into Zac. Gervais catches Zac and sends him to a therapist to "cure" him of being a homosexual.
Laurianne (Danielle Proulx) as the mother of the 5 boys, appreciates that Zac is different in a good way.
Heralded Canadian filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée passes away at the age of 58
TIFF ranks top Canadian films (2015)
C.R.A.Z.Y. can certainly be labeled as a coming of age film dealing with father-son issues. The film feels like so much more.
Jean-Marc Vallée directed the film and co-wrote the film with François Boulay. We talk often about how Bruce McDonald uses music in his Canadian films. Vallée makes the music as a co-star in the film, putting you in the middle of this time of change in a society reluctant to make those changes.
Shine On You Crazy Diamond and The Great Gig in the Sky from Pink Floyd; Space Oddity from David Bowie; Sympathy for the Devil from the Rolling Stones; and White Rabbit from Jefferson Airplane. Gervais is a big fan of Patsy Cline's Crazy, which also ties into the Pink Floyd song and the film's title.
The film's budget devoted nearly 10% to clearing the rights to music, reportedly $600,000.
The soundtrack also features a couple of Charles Aznavour songs Emmenez-moi and Hier Encore.
Vallée creates a film stronger than the sum of its parts. Love takes on many meanings in a family dynamic; family members who love each other but find unusual ways to show that love.
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The 2005 film was submitted as the Canada entry for Best Foreign Language Film for the Academy Awards but was not nominated. The film won Best Canadian Film at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
C.R.A.Z.Y. made the TIFF Top Ten at number 8 for best Canadian films of all time on the 2015 list.
The film won 13 Jutra Awards (Quebec films) and 11 Genie Awards in the spring of 2006. The film won the Golden Reel Award, given to the Canadian film that made the most money. C.R.A.Z.Y. was an artistic and commercial success.
Telefilm Canada brings back more Canadian films for rent
The film is available as part of Telefilm Canada's 99¢ Canadian film of the week, starting May 24.
Despite how amazing the film is, there was never a theatrical release in the United States, due to licensing issues with the music. Americans will have a difficult time finding this film. Bonne chance (good luck) in finding the film. You deserve to know the film exists in case you can find a way to see the film.
Unlike Jean-Marc Vallée's U.S. projects, Vallée had a writing hand in this film. His sense of music in the storytelling is a part of why he was so loved as a filmmaker.
photo credit: C.R.A.Z.Y. film
video credit: YouTube/Museum of Modern Art
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