Jonathan Beaulieu-Cyr saw his military father leave for a deployment to Afghanistan when he was just 13 years old. With the film Phoenixhe wants to portray the reality of these families who, like his, had to go through this difficult ordeal.
“Children, wives/husbands and parents of military personnel must psychologically juggle the thought of losing [son être proche]“It’s a very disturbing situation,” describes the director of the film, Jonathan Beaulieu-Cyr, who will present real facts through certain elements of fiction.
When the filmmaker makes a film that is heavily inspired by his own life, he relives many dark and joyful feelings.
“My goal is to express my point of view; that of the son of a soldier stationed in a war zone,” explains Jonathan Beaulieu-Cyr, whom Le Journal met while filming in Limoilou. “There is a lot of incomprehension, a feeling of abandonment, fear, resentment,” recalls the director behind the film Mad Dog Labine.
Phénix will highlight the insights in the life of young Jacob (Aksel Leblanc), who faces what many children his age will never experience. The feature film takes place during young Jacob’s soccer season, in which the military father tries to get closer to his son shortly before his planned overseas deployment.
Perfect parents
Évelyne Brochu and Maxime Genois will play Jacob’s parents in the film Phénix; a couple who, according to the director, seemed ideally suited to embody his parents.
Maxime Genois will play someone he knows well on the big screen. Alexander Caputo
“Basically, my mother is seven years older than my father; “Évelyne has about the same age difference as Maxime,” notes Beaulieu-Cyr. “In her energy and in what I perceived, I said to myself, ‘Wow!’ It would be great if they played my parents. »
Even though Jonathan’s birth mother had no say in the actress’s role, the director says she was touched when she found out that Évelyne Brochu had gotten the role.
The actress also spent time with the director’s mother to find out how she experienced her partner’s deployment.
Maxime Genois, who took on the role of the soldier deployed in Afghanistan, is a long-time friend of Jonathan Beaulieu-Cyr. It was a natural fit for both him and the director.
“Maxime is very similar to my father in his generosity and energy, he is also very physical and athletic, just like my father,” notes Beaulieu-Cyr.
“I am very close to Jonathan and his family; So there is something poignant about my role, I am very keen to honor the situation portrayed in the film,” the actor added.
A beautiful scenario
Évelyne Brochu, who has worked on more than ten television and cinema projects in recent years, says that the screenplay for the film Phénix, written by Jonathan Beaulieu-Cyr, is one of the best she has read in the last decade.
Évelyne Brochu during a break on the set of Phénix. Alexander Caputo
“It’s an extremely touching film, we feel very connected to the characters,” explains Évelyne Brochu. “Even though it is basically a drama, there is a big touch of humor and surprise,” she added when met on the set of the film in the Limoilou district.