Jeune Juliette a different kind of Quebec coming-of-age comedy · about the other kids at school and host a radio show that seemingly everyone in the cafeteria complains about —

Jeune Juliette a different kind ofQuebec coming-of-age comedyAfter three serious dramas, Anne Émond returns with a semi-autobiographical film

about perhaps the most awkward period of her life.

T'CHA DUNLEVY, MONTREAL GAZETTE (HTTPS://MONTREALGAZETTE.COM/AUTHOR/TCHADUNLEVY)

Updated: August 9, 2019

Anne Émond based Jeune Juliette on her own school experiences. "It could have been a drama, but over the

years I decided, ‘No, it should be a comedy — because it turned out so well,' " says Émond, centre, with stars

Alexane Jamieson, left, and Léanne Désilets. P I E R R E O B E N D R A U F / M O N T R E A L G A Z E T T E

Is Quebec ready for a hit comedy directed by awoman? A coming-of-age story about a young,

Jeune Juliette a different kind of Quebec coming-of-age comedy |... https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/movies/jeune-juliette-a-d...

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full-figured girl who doesn’t fit in but finds herway through junior high school regardless?

“I’d really like that,” said Anne Émond, director of the film in question,

Jeune Juliette, which hits theatres this weekend.

Given the continued success of Quebec director Ricardo Trogi’s

autobiographical comedy series 1981, 1987 and 1991, you would think

Jeune Juliette has a shot.

“I think it’s important to understand that it’s not just a film for

adolescents,” Émond explained. “Teenagers might like it, but I think

people of any age can remember that period — it’s for everyone. I

think it would be very cool to have a successful Quebec comedy that

doesn’t have Louis-José Houde in it. I love Louis-José Houde and his

films, but to have a movie that’s a hit not because of the casting of

one actor or comedian and isn’t a sequel would be crazy; it would be

cool.”

01:58

Jeune Juliette is an artistic leap for Émond. After three serious

dramas — her arty 2011 debut Nuit #1, about a one-night stand that

stretches into an intense all-night conversation; her 2015 followup

Les êtres chers, which broached the legacy of suicide on one family;


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and 2016’s Nelly, an impressionistic take on the life of prostitute-

turned-author Nelly Arcan — she returns with a semi-

autobiographical film about perhaps the most awkward period of her

life.

“I weighed 75 kg more than I do now in high school,” Émond said. “I

was a lot bigger. I always told myself that one day I would make a film

about that time, about what it was like to be a teenager who is

outside the norm.

“It could have been a drama, but over the years I decided, ‘No, it

should be a comedy — because it turned out so well.’ Some stories do

end well; just because in high school you’re vulnerable and a loser

doesn’t mean you’re going to stay that way your whole life. Au

contraire.”

For Émond, becoming a filmmaker was a way of finding her voice. In

revisiting her story, she uses that voice to play with the facts and

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

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imagine how things might have been different had she known what

she knows now. And to make everything lighter.

“I wanted to talk about that time in my life and I wanted to make it

funny,” she said. “I thought it would be way cooler if Juliette is a bit

different from me — I was very shy, I didn’t stand up for myself, I

stayed hidden. I liked the idea of creating a strong character.

“I think that’s what’s interesting about the film. Juliette confronts

people. She’s able to defend herself. She’s cheeky, baveuse. She has

repartee. It’s everything I would have liked to say at 14 but was too

shy to say.”

One personal thing Émond did pass on to Juliette was her vivid

imagination as a teen. In the film, her character pens letters to herself

from a boy she is in love with — something the director admits is

taken straight out of her own teenage playbook.

“I have the letters,” she said. “It’s so embarrassing. When I started

writing the script a couple of years ago, I found a letter I wrote, from a

guy I liked to myself — I was so ashamed, but it was a mix of shame

and finding it so funny. When you’re 15 it’s not funny, but when you’re

37 it’s hilarious. I found it so endearing.”

“I thought it would be way cooler if Juliette is a bit different from me,” says Anne


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Émond. “I was very shy, I didn’t stand up for myself, I stayed hidden. I liked the idea

of creating a strong character.” P I E R R E O B E N D R A U F / M O N T R E A LG A Z E T T E

In Émond’s film, Juliette (Alexane Jamieson) has just one friend: the

skinny and geeky-cool Léane (Léanne Désilets).

The actresses, both 16, recently watched the movie at a screening for

cast and crew, and were impressed.

“I liked the lightness of the film, and the fact that it’s very positive and

optimistic,” Jamieson said. “I liked the way it broaches difficult topics,

especially bullying.”

Jamieson was bullied herself when she was younger, but like Émond,

she has found her way out through art.

She felt a certain responsibility in playing a younger version of

Émond, Jamieson admits, but was more intrigued by her own

connections to Juliette.

“I have a strong character, but not as strong as Juliette,” she said. “I

say what I think, but with more respect than her. I have more tact

than Juliette. She doesn’t care what people think — a little too much

so, at times. And I learned that I have maybe more character than I

thought.”

When Juliette drifts off into fantasyland, Léane is her sounding board,

and when Juliette needs to let loose, she’s her partner in crime.

“She’s more mature than Juliette,” Désilets said. “In that way, she’s

the opposite of me. I’m a dreamer in real life. She’s much more lucid. I

can’t stop imagining things; everything is images in my head. It’s

always a film.”

Both girls would like to pursue acting, with Désilets expressing an

interest in directing. And both are prepared for whatever comes

following the release of Jeune Juliette.

“I’m nervous about the film coming out,” Jamieson admitted. “I know


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there’s a big buzz around it, but I don’t want to have false hopes. I’m

just excited for people to discover Juliette and her universe. I hope it

makes people talk.”

AATT AA GGLLAANNCCEE

JJeeuunnee JJuulliieettttee is in theatres on Friday, Aug. 9, including with English

subtitles at the Cineplex Forum.

Anne Émond and Mylène Mackay approach Nelly Arcan from everyangle (https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/movies/anne-emond-and-

mylene-mackay-approach-nelly-arcan-from-every-angle)

Movie review: Anne Émond’s Nelly circles its tragic protagonist(https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/movies/movie-review-anne-

emonds-nelly-circles-its-tragic-subject)

TIFF 2015: A family secret haunts Les êtres chers(https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/movies/tiff-2015-a-family-

secret-haunts-anne-emonds-les-etres-chers)

Léane (Léanne Désilets), Juliette (Alexane Jamieson) and Arnaud (Gabriel Beaudet):

irresistible outsider’s alliance.

Jeune Juliette

******** oouutt ooff **********

RELATED


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DDiirreecctteedd bbyy:: Anne Émond

DDuurraattiioonn:: 93 minutes

SSttaarrrriinngg:: Alexane Jamieson, Léanne Désilets, Robin Aubert, Gabriel

Beaudet

If all is fair in Quebec cinema, Anne Émond should have a hit on her

hands.

After three serious dramas, the writer-director mines her early

teenage years for inspiration and comes up with a rousing comedy.

Alexane Jamieson is a revelation in the role of Juliette, a young high

school student who doesn’t fit in anywhere, especially gym class,

which is where the fun starts as she and her best — and only — friend

Léane (Léanne Désilets) try to keep up with the barked commands of

their gym teacher.

Actually, they don’t really try at all. Rather, they skip class, talk trash

about the other kids at school and host a radio show that seemingly

everyone in the cafeteria complains about — but they don’t care.

As Juliette navigates a hard crush on her brother’s best friend, she

also babysits Arnaud (Gabriel Beaudet), a young boy who is on the

spectrum and quick with a Rubik’s Cube. Together they form an

irresistible outsider’s alliance.

Colourful, kooky and cool, Jeune Juliette is a delight that deserves

your time and attention, and blows the playing field wide open for

Émond.

[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

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Jeune Juliette a different kind of Quebec coming-of-age comedy · about the other kids at school and host a radio show that seemingly everyone in the cafeteria complains about —