Quebec Movie 23 December is well received in France

Quebec Movie: “23. December” is well received in France

After the Christmas film was a hit at the Quebec box office during the holiday season 23rd of December passed the test of the French public. The romantic comedy, written by India Desjardins, was warmly received on Thursday afternoon when it premiered at the Alpe d’Huez festival in south-eastern France.

• Also read: “23. December” is the highest-grossing Quebec film since July 2019

• Also read: Quebec cinema market share declined in 2022

India Desjardins, who was present with actor François Arnaud, actress Virginie Fortin and director Miryam Bouchard, said she was “pleasantly surprised” by the reaction from French viewers.

“It was super nice,” the author and screenwriter said on the phone a few minutes after the end of the session.

“The film was applauded warmly and at the end viewers came up to tell us they were going to Quebec. I admit that I was a bit scared at first because I was writing [dans le film] many gags aimed at the Quebec public. But in the end it went really well. That gave me a little inner push. »

The fact that the holiday season is behind us hasn’t diminished the appreciation of the film in her opinion. “If you take the film out of the context of the Christmas season, you seem to forget the Christmas aspect and see it as a romantic comedy,” remarked India Desjardins.

skiing and cinema

Quebec actor Antoine Bertrand, who attended the screening as a member of the festival’s jury, confirmed to the Journal that French audiences had been seduced by India Desjardins’ Christmas film.

“It went really well, I was really proud of her,” the actor testified. Here the public loves Quebecers very much. Watching December 23, French viewers felt like spending two hours at home. »

This is the second year in a row that Antoine Bertrand has been invited to the Alpe d’Huez Festival. Last year, the Quebec actor fell in love with this comedy festival, which was taking place in the heart of a ski resort in the Alps, when he went there to present the film Goodbye Happiness by Ken Scott. He had also received the male interpretation award with his playing partners François Arnaud, Patrice Robitaille and Louis Morissette.

“I’ve had a smile from ear to ear since the beginning of the week,” he says. I meet a lot of people that I met last year. We are very well received here. Everyone is nice and everyone is happy to be there. It’s a festival that focuses on a relaxed atmosphere. It feels good. »

India Desjardins spends the whole week at the festival and is amazed every day by the majestic backdrop of the Alps: “I’m looking at the mountains and I can see gondolas and chairlifts passing in front of me. It looks like a postcard! It’s really nice! she told.

The film December 23, which opened in Quebec theaters on November 25, has grossed more than $2 million at the Quebec box office to date.