Gabrielle (2013)

Gabrielle is a 2013 Canadian drama film directed by Louise Archambault. It was screened in the Special Presentation section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. The film was first shown at the Locarno International Film Festival on 12 August 2013 where it won the Audience Award.

The film stars Gabrielle Marion-Rivard as Gabrielle, a young woman with Williams syndrome who participates in a choir of developmentally disabled adults, and begins a romantic relationship with her choirmate Martin (Alexandre Landry) while the choir prepares for an upcoming engagement singing backing vocals for Robert Charlebois.

The film was selected as the Canadian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated. The film was also a finalist for Best Canadian Film at the Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2013, alongside The Dirties and the eventual winner, Watermark.

The film garnered six Canadian Screen Award nominations at the 2nd Canadian Screen Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Marion-Rivard), Best Supporting Actor (Landry), Best Editing (Richard Comeau), Best Sound (Bernard Gariépy Strobl and Pierre Bertrand) and Best Sound Editing (Sylvain Bellemare). It won the awards for Best Picture and Best Actress.

Synopsis

Gabrielle et Martin, deux jeunes gens qui se sont rencontrés au centre de loisirs dans la chorale « Les Muses de Montréal », sont fous amoureux l'un de l'autre. Cependant, à cause de leur déficience mentale, leur histoire d'amour n'est pas bien vue par leur entourage notamment la mère de Martin. Tandis qu'ils se préparent à un spectacle important où ils doivent chanter avec Robert Charlebois, Gabrielle essaye de prouver son autonomie pour gagner son indépendance. Elle rêve de vivre en couple avec Martin dans un appartement.

Actors