DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE / LE DÉCLIN DE L´EMPIRE AMÉRICAIN
Film section: Canada: Portrait - Denys Arcand
Description: A cult film about a group of friends, who wanted to change the world in the 1960s but instead were changed by it. Twenty years later, the legacy of their left-wing ideals include a hangover, the recognition of the tragic fallibility of doctrine, and the knowledge that no system is perfect. A film with a sociological bent, which is a testimonial to Arcand´s generation, and, at the same time, a kind of prototype of the film Les Invasions barbares, in which we return to the same figures and actors many years later. Film awards:
MFF Cannes (1987) - Cena FIPRESCI
Directed by: Denys Arcand,
(1941) Director´s annotation:
Denys Arcand studied history at the University of Montreal. He made his first film in 1962 (Seul ou avec d'autres). From 1964 to 1972 he made historical documentaries for television. He made his name with the film Le Déclin de l'empire américain (1986). Arcand takes long time to prepare his films. In the course of 17 years, he only completed four films. His best known film Jésus de Montreal came out in 1989. His most recent film, Les Invasions barbares, was shown at Cannes, where it enjoyed great success.
Starring: Domique Michel, Dorothée Berryman, Louise Portal, Pierre Curzi, Rémy Girard,Yves Jacques
