The second edition of Montreal Critics’ Week kicks off in January, just in time for the world premiere of Olivier Godin’s new movie, Don’t Forget The Oatmeal (Oublie pas le gruau). The cast is led by Jean-Marc Dalpé and Kayo Yasuhara, along with the additional performances of martial arts stalwarts Eric Jacobus, and the late Dennis Ruel in one of his final film roles.
A barbarian (Jean Marc Dalpé) believes he only has five erections left before dying. Condemned to live in a thrift store and haunted by a family tragedy, he sets his sights on Marie (Kayo Yasuhara), an alcoholic special education teacher. If he has to go, he might as well do it in good company. In the latest film by our most exceptional fabulist Olivier Godin (Il n’y a pas de faux métier, Les arts de la parole), a slightly bawdy romantic comedy rubs shoulders with everyday myths, through which our lives make sense—whether it is theatre or poetry, science fiction or kung fu fisticuffs. An ever more sophisticated, ever more vibrant amalgamation of genres, registers and sensibilities, culminating here in the director’s most tender work, a countdown to ecstasy, a love letter.
I’m only aware of this project since Jacobus himself pushed it on his socials and I only just came to find out as of this write up that he and Ruel filmed their sequence on this project last November – roughly six months before Ruel’s passing. I still get a pit in my stomach over it, as do probably most of Ruel’s fans, including Jacobus who was one of his closest friends. Sigh.
This one’s for you, Den.
Check out the trailer and stills below:
