“Selling Christmas trees in New York is really a jungle!” says Stéphane Moukarzel with a laugh. In his comedy Fir$The director explores this unusual universe by giving actor Étienne Galloy the role of a young Quebecer who has to experience all sorts of misadventures while selling Christmas trees in the Big Apple.
We've all heard about the Quebecers who go into exile every year during the holidays to sell Christmas trees in New York. When Stéphane Moukarzel heard all sorts of crazy stories about this ancient tradition, he came up with the idea for his first feature film.
“Speaking to a friend who worked as a tree salesman in New York, I immediately realized that there was material for a good film,” explains the director.
“In New York they sell the trees right on the street. Since there is no protection, one employee always has to stay awake at night to watch the trees. It really is the jungle! They put you on a street corner and you have to survive for a month. You sleep in a van and have no space to cook or shower. Anyone who decides to embark on this adventure will really have to learn the hard way. Everything we see in the film is based on reality!”
Photo provided by Maison 4:3
A Christmas movie?
Sapin$ follows the adventures of Rémi (Étienne Galloy), a young man from La Tuque who agrees to sell fir trees in New York's Bronx to repay a large debt that “threatens his future.” Without a work permit, he must learn to get along as best he can with his broken English and working with Laura, a young French activist (Diane Rouxel).
Étienne Galloy was immediately won over by Stéphane Moukarzel's script, which he co-wrote with Germain Larochelle. Do you feel like you're in a Christmas movie? Yes and no…
“It's a Christmas film because it has all the energy and magic of Christmas. But it’s also not the classic Christmas movie we would expect,” adds the 24-year-old actor.
“That's what I find original about this film. We use certain codes from the Christmas movie while deconstructing others. There are many genre mixes that make the film extremely versatile, funny and touching.
Photo provided by Maison 4:3
Étienne Galloy also points out that, unlike a classic Christmas film, Sapin$ implicitly addresses several social problems, such as overconsumption, waste and the phenomenon of gentrification, which is changing the face of working-class neighborhoods.
“It’s not a Christmas movie for the sake of being a Christmas movie,” Galloy states. It is a comedy that entertains but also makes us aware of many topics. There is still a depth that can touch us if we pay attention to it. That’s the strength of the film.”
Sapin$ will be exhibited across Quebec on December 22nd.