The Ladies of EVOLUTION

Lucile Hadžihalilovic returns with her sophomore film, the moody body-horror flick, Evolution. Hadžihalilovic is also known for her 2004 debut film Innocence, which is based off of the Frank Wedekind novella Mine-Haha or On the Bodily Education of Young Girls. Evolution follows the 11-year old Nicholas who lives with his mother in a seaside community, where Mengele-esque morbid practices are taking place on the boys in the community, in order to stunt or prevent their evolution. The film stars the captivating and cold Roxane Duran as a nurse named Stella and Julie-Marie Parmentier as Nicholas' mother. These two women who are no strangers to heavily dramatic stories.

Before Evolution, Roxane Duran starred in the award-winning drama The White Ribbon which concerns itself with social constructs in Germany before World War I. She also starred in Le Moine, which is an adaptation of the gothic Matthew Lewis novel, The Monk, which follows Vincent Cassel as the highly-regarded Capucin Ambrosio in the midst of his eventual downfall. Duran plays Soeur Agnés, one of many people who encounter Ambrosio as he falls deeper into the wills of Satan.

Julie-Marie Parmentier, equally well-equipped in the realm of dark cinema, is a French actress who is perhaps best known for Les Blessures Assassines (or Murderous Maids), which recounts a true story of sisters Christine and Lea Papin, who after years of brutality in their upbringing, decide to kill the people they work for, after first gouging out their eyes. Parmentier won Best Actress at the Mar del Plata Film Festival for her role as a murderous maid, as well as multiple other awards and nominations under her belt.

EVOLUTION screens:
Mon, Sept 14, 9:30 PM RYERSON
Wed, Sept 16, 4:30 PM BLOOR HOT DOCS
Sun, Sept 20, 8:30 PM BELL LIGHTBOX

A look back at Lucile Hadžihalilović's INNOCENCE (2004)

Before the richly atmospheric Evolution, Lucile Hadžihalilović's provocative debut feature Innocence hit the big screens in 2004. The film is an adaptation of the short story Mine-haha or On the Bodily Education of Young Girls by German playwright Frank Wedekind, and follows the goings-on in an an all-girls school tucked tightly within a thick woods, where new students arrive in coffins. Featuring the likes of the award-winning Marion Cotillard (Inception, La Vie en Rose), this wispy examination of pre-pubescence teeters on exploitation as it peeks in and out of the skirts of young girls, and keeps hold on its audience in its surreal, dreamlike qualities.

Hadžihalilović's film was highly decorated after its premiere, winning several awards including Best New Director from the San Sebastián International Film Festival, Best Cinematography from the Stockholm Film Festival, and the People's Choice Award at the Istanbul International Film Festival.

Although the director herself as stated that she does not wish to give answers to every bit of symbolism in her movie, it allows the viewer to draw their own conclusions on what each theme means to them. Following in the ilk of being a deeply metaphoric ride with more weight placed on effective atmosphere, Lucile Hadžihalilović's sophomore film Evolution exercises her knack for submersing audiences into her unique universes. 

EVOLUTION screens:

Mon, Sept 14, 9:30 PM RYERSON 

Wed, Sept 16, 4:30 PM at BLOOR HOT DOCS CINEMA

Sun, Sept 20, 8:30 PM at TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX