TU DORS NICOLE (Stéphane Lafleur). 93 minutes. Subtitled. Opens Friday (October 17) at TIFF Bell Lightbox. For venues and times, see Movies. Rating: NNNN
There’s not a lot going on in this weird, beguiling coming-of-ager, and that’s perfectly fine. Quebec director Stéphane Lafleur and his talented cast know how to make the most of every unassuming moment.
Stunningly photographed on 35mm black-and-white, Tu Dors Nicole recalls early Godard and Wes Anderson, but throughout it establishes Lafleur as a singular voice that Canada needs to pay attention to – more so than that other hot-shit Quebecer who’s been stealing much of our nationalistic ink for the last five years.
A wonderfully resigned Julianne Côté stars as insomniac 22-year-old Nicole, who’s spending her hot summer days while her parents are away looking for something to do with Véronique (Catherine St-Laurent), her similarly aimless best friend.
Characters both idiosyncratic and absurd pass through, but whether they’ll have any effect on Nicole’s arrested development is left in the air. The film skilfully portrays youthful malaise, bewilderment and unexpected hope. And did I mention that the whole thing is pretty hilarious, too?
Lafleur counters the lackadaisical narrative with direction, editing and sound cues that are playful but precise, mysterious but potent, making every note in this exceptionally well-made film something to savour.
