Red Rooms () is a 2023 Canadian crime drama film written and directed by Pascal Plante.Tim Dams, "'Red Rooms': first trailer for Pascal Plante's Karlovy Vary competition thriller". Screen Daily, May 30, 2023. The film stars Juliette Gariépy, Laurie Babin, Elisabeth Locas, Maxwell McCabe-Lokos, Natalie Tannous, Pierre Chagnon, and Guy Thauvette. The film's production was first announced in November 2022.Pierre-Marc Durivage, "Juliette Gariépy et Laurie Babin dans Les chambres rouges". La Presse, November 9, 2022.
Red Rooms premiered at the 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on July 4, 2023,Bruno Lapointe, "«Les chambres rouges» de Pascal Plante en ouverture du festival Fantasia". Le Journal de Montréal, June 8, 2023. and had its North American premiere as the opening film of the 2023 Fantasia Film Festival.Zac Ntim, "Pascal Plante's 'Red Rooms' And Nicolas Cage Pic 'Sympathy For The Devil' Among Titles Set For Fantasia Festival". Deadline Hollywood, June 8, 2023. It was released theatrically in Canada on August 11, 2023, to positive reviews from critics.
Plot
In Montreal, fashion model Kelly-Anne attends the trial of Ludovic Chevalier, accused of broadcasting his murder of three teenage girls in a "Red Room", a chat room on the dark web where people pay to watch snuff films. The case has become a media circus and attracted the attention of both the press and "fans" of Chevalier, some of whom believe he is being framed due to his reticent demeanor. Despite the FBI's submission of two snuff films to the Canadian authorities, doubt is cast over the killer's identity due to their use of a balaclava while filming them.
Kelly-Anne bonds with a neurotic "fan" of Chevalier's, Clementine, a younger woman who has hitchhiked to Montreal to attend the trial. Having grown close due to their mutual fascination with the case, Kelly-Anne invites Clementine to live with her for the duration of the trial. While Clementine passionately defends Chevalier in conversation, Kelly-Anne remains distant and taciturn.
Kelly-Anne reveals that the majority of her income comes from online gambling. She further reveals a proficiency in computer technology, having programmed her own AI which she has named Guinevere. Unbeknownst to Clementine, Kelly-Anne has begun cyber-stalking Francine Beaulieu, the mother of Camille, Chevalier's youngest victim and the only girl whose snuff video has never been found.
On the day that two of Chevalier's snuff films are to be played in court, the public gallery is forced to leave. An upset Clementine expresses disappointment that she will not be able to see the films, believing they will prove Chevalier's innocence. Kelly-Anne reveals she has already obtained and watched the films via the dark web, and that they contain proof Chevalier is the killer. Kelly-Anne and Clementine return to the former's apartment, where they watch the videos together. Kelly-Anne points out the masked killer has Chevalier's distinct blue eyes and unusual gait. Clementine begins weeping at the brutality of the videos; visibly disturbed, she decides to skip the rest of the trial and buys a bus ticket home. As she leaves, Clementine asks Kelly-Anne why she is so fascinated with the case, which she is unable to answer.
On Chevalier's birthday, Kelly-Anne attends court wearing a wig, colored contact lenses, and the uniform Camille was murdered in to resemble the girl. Kelly-Anne is forcibly ejected from the courtroom; as she leaves, the normally rigid Chevalier waves and makes eye contact with her. That night, Kelly-Anne's modeling agency fires her for the stunt.
Kelly-Anne makes contact with a dark web hacker, who has obtained Camille's snuff video and is planning to auction it. After proving her identity and ability to bid, Kelly-Anne is welcomed into the auction. Though the bidding initially rises above what she can pay, Kelly-Anne wins a last-minute hand of poker and uses the proceeds to win the snuff film. Suspicious that her activities have been monitored via Guinevere, Kelly-Anne destroys the AI in her blender and watches the film. That night, Kelly-Anne breaks into Beaulieu's home. After posing for selfies in Camille's room while wearing her schoolgirl uniform, Kelly-Anne leaves a flash drive containing the snuff film in Francine's bedroom.
Some time later, a news broadcast reveals that Francine turned the flash drive over to the police. Camille's snuff film contains irrefutable proof that Chevalier is the murderer; he subsequently changes his plea to guilty. Back home, Clementine gives an interview to a journalist in which she describes herself as an "ex-groupie" and expresses regret for having supported Chevalier, saying she can now only think about his victims.
Cast Juliette Gariépy as Kelly-Anne Laurie Babin as Clémentine Elisabeth Locas as Francine Beaulieu Natalie Tannous as Maître Yasmine Chedid Pierre Chagnon as Maître Richard Fortin Guy Thauvette as Judge Marcel Godbout Maxwell McCabe-Lokos as Ludovic Chevalier
Production Principal photography took place in Montreal in 2022 over 23 days.
Reception Critical response Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 81 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".
Accolades Award Date Category Recipient(s) Result Karlovy Vary Film festival2023Crystal Globe CompetitionRed RoomsFantasia Film Festival2023Best FilmPascal Plante Erik Pedersen, "Fantasia Film Festival Awards: 'Red Rooms' Takes Best Feature & Two Others; 'Femme' A Double Winner – Full List". Deadline Hollywood, July 30, 2023.Best ScreenplayBest PerformanceJuliette Gariépy Best ScoreDominique Plante Prix IrisDecember 10, 2023Best FilmDominique Dussault"Québec Cinéma dévoile les finalistes aux PRIX IRIS 2023". CTVM, November 14, 2023.Best DirectorPascal PlanteBest Supporting ActressLaurie BabinRevelation of the YearJuliette GariépyBest ScreenplayPascal PlanteBest Art DirectionLaura NhemBest CinematographyVincent BironBest EditingJonah MalakBest Original MusicDominique PlanteBest SoundOlivier Calvert, Stéphane Bergeron, Martyne MorinBest HairstylingNermin GrbicBest MakeupMarie SalvadoBest CastingMarilou Richer Prix collégial du cinéma québécois 2024 Best Film Pascal Plante Marie-France-Lou Lemay, "Les films Les chambres rouges et Madeleine récompensés". La Presse, April 6, 2024. Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois 2024 Prix Luc-Perreault Charles-Henri Ramond, "Les chambres rouges primé par l'AQCC". Films du Québec, March 4, 2024. Chicago Film Critics Association December 11, 2024 Best Foreign Language Film Red Rooms
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