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Shepherds film image; man standing in a doorway with a shepherd's crook

Advertising man Mathyas (Félix-Antoine Duval) abruptly quits his marketing job in Montreal for the south of France with the romantic notion of becoming a shepherd -– a profession he naively imagines he can pick up from a second hand book or two. Of course the reality is less bucolic, more physically demanding and mentally challenging too: farmers struggling with endless economic setbacks, loneliness, wolves, disease… The shepherd is at the mercy of nature on the one hand and bureaucracy on the other. And yet, and yet, there is life on the Alps, and love too…

Adapted from a semi-autobiographical novel by Mathyas Lefebure (Where are you from, Shepherd?), Sophie Deraspe’s follow up to Antigone (2019) feels both elemental and intimate, effectively evoking the rhythms of land and nature, balancing the spiritual uplift with at rough count some 3000 sheep, one donkey, assorted hens, goats, and several life saving dogs.

Majesterial… as rejuvenating to watch as the effect of being in nature.

Stephen Saito, The Moveable Feast

Extraordinary… Stunning.

Brendan Kelly, Montreal Gazette

A touching, soul-stirring film.

Pat Mullen, That Shelf

Director

Sophie Deraspe

Cast

Félix-Antoine Duval, Solène Rigot

Credits
Country of Origin

Canada/France

Year

2024

Language

In French with English subtitles

19+
113 min
micro_scope, Avenue B Productions

Book Tickets

Friday April 18

6:20 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
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Saturday April 19

1:10 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
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Monday April 21

4:00 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
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Tuesday April 22

4:00 pm
Hearing Assistance Subtitles
VIFF Centre - VIFF Cinema
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Credits

Producer

Kim McCraw, Luc Déry, Élaine Hébert, Caroline Bonmarchand, Xenia Sulyma

Screenwriter

Sophie Deraspe, Mathyas Lefebure

Cinematography

Vincent Gonneville

Editor

Stéphane Lafleur

Production Design

André-Line Beauparlant

Original Music

Philippe Brault

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