Ricardo Trogi’s 1981 to open MWFF’09
Just when you thought you couldn’t watch another movie about childhood experiences in Québec, the Montreal World Film Festival announced their opening film for the 33rd edition of the festival will be about a kid growing up in 1980s Québec. Hot off the heals of successes like C.R.A.Z.Y., C’est pas moi, je le jure!, Maman est chez le coiffeur, and more kid-centric francophone films, 1981 is a fictional film based on the early struggles of director Ricardo Trogi as a troubled kid.
For those unaware, Ricardo Trogi won critical acclaim in 2003 for his film Québec-Montréal, which went on to win four Jutras including Best Picture and Best Director. His second film, Horloge biologique, while not as critically acclaimed, still scored big at the local box office. As mentioned, the recent slew of movies about kids in 1960s/1970s Québec that have done well locally should help 1981. I can’t but feel that the genre is becoming a little tired at this point, but at least we’re getting a different era this time around.
The main character’s name is also Ricardo, a sixth-grader of Italian descent who just wants to fit in. To do so he must get into all sorts of trouble - especially if he wants to win the heart of the best looking girl in his class. The usual slew of childhood problems are sure to be presented, with the entertaining editing style that these films have come to feature. With any luck, 1981 will have enough original ideas to be able to shake off the dust it comes pre-disposed to; after all, it’s competing with last year’s Montreal World Film Festival opener, the award-winning Ce qu’il faut pour vivre (The Necessities of Life).
The Montreal World Film Festival begins August 27th and runs until September 7th. You can read all about it and even buy a full-access passport at the official website. You can watch the trailer for Ricardo Trogi’s 1981 below.
Film Festivals | 
August 6, 2009
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