The last of our French Film February series is Vic + Flo ont vu un ours (Vic + Flo saw a bear). Victoria (Pierrette Robitaille) is a parolee who retreats to her ailing uncle’s sugar shack in the Quebec woods. She is joined by current love interest and fellow ex-con Florence (Romane Bohringer). Vic and Flo’s attempts at a peaceful life are constantly interrupted by Vic’s parole officer (Marc-André Grondin) and an intrusive neighbor (Olivier Aubin). Eventually, pesky people create insurmountable problems for the couple. The film’s deceptively simple set-up belies the tension it creates. Its mix of drama, noir, and dark humor defies easy categorization, but Robitaille’s and Bohringer’s excellent performances as the title characters are the film’s power. Winner 2013 Silver Bear Berlin International Film Festival.

You might like this movie if you like: the work of David Lynch; film noir; neo-noir; French-Canadian film

Reviews (Warning: possible spoilers):
Variety
Reverse Shot
New York Times
Film Comment
Village Voice
Rated Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, 86%

Interviews with director Denis Côté
Bombsite
OUT

Vic + Flo ont vu un ours (Vic + Flo Saw a Bear)
NR – 95 min – Tickets $7
Fri, Feb. 21: 7:00, 9:00 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 22: 5:00, 7:00 p.m.
Sun, Feb. 23: 5:00, 7:00 p.m.
Thurs, Feb. 27: 7:00, 9:00 p.m.

Vic + Flo Saw a Bear - Official Trailer from KimStim on Vimeo.