Marianne Metivier’s debut feature “The Splendour of Life” (“Une splendeur de vivre”) is set to start principal photography at locations across Canada and the Philippines, the producers revealed at the Cannes Film Festival.
The ensemble cast includes Camille Rutherford (“Anatomy of a Fall”), Garance Marillier (“Raw”), Sue Prado (“Your Mother’s Son”), Kyrie Samodio (“Hito”) and Amaryllis Tremblay (“Genesis”).
Set against a lush countryside backdrop, Marie (Rutherford) questions her relationship, while Noée (Marillier) grieves her father. In a stifling Montreal, Eva (Kyrie Samodio) searches for stability as Jeanne (Tremblay) plans her departure.
Canadian-Filipino Metivier won acclaim for her short “She Who Wears the Rain” that was selected for the Berlinale Short Film Competition in 2020.
Geneviève Gosselin-G. of Canada’s Le Foyer Films, known for “Richelieu” (Tribeca, Karlovy Vary 2023), partners with Alexa Rivero of France’s Altamar Films (Venice 2021 winner “The Great Movement”) and Wilfredo Manalang of the Philippines’ Fusee Media (Cannes 2022 winner “Plan 75”), as producers.
The film has backing from Telefilm Canada, the Film Development Council of the Philippines’ ICOF grant, SODEC Quebec, CALQ (Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec) and was a Torino Feature Lab selection in 2023. Filming begins this August in Montreal and wraps in the Philippines in November.
“As a Canadian-Filipina, my mixed cultural identity has often led me to explore stories of displacement and belonging. I am grateful to reconnect with my roots by filming in the Philippines,” Metivier said.
Gosselin-G added: “With this debut feature, our goal is to establish Marianne as an exciting new voice on the local and international scene.”
“The talent gathered around Marianne, the international cast and the initial industry feedback on the project give us full confidence in the film’s ability to travel and find its audience,” said Rivero.
Manalang added: “The script delves into the diaspora of Filipino culture, highlighting the enduring struggles and issues that arise from separation from family and homeland. This narrative serves as a vital voice that deserves to be heard on a global scale. We’re thrilled to be a part of Marianne’s journey.”
Source Agencies
