Oscar-nominated film features cinematography by Concordia grad
It’s official: Incendies is up for an Oscar.
The movie is Canada's nominee for best foreign language film at the 83rd Academy Awards, to be televised around the world on February 27.
This is exciting news, since cinematographer André Turpin, a graduate of Concordia’s Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema (BFA ’89 film production), worked as director of photography on the critically acclaimed movie.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Incendies is a modern and heart-wrenching tragedy based on a play by Wajdi Mouawad. The movie, which has been sold for distribution in more than 30 countries, has already won several awards including best Canadian feature film at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.
The Oscar nod has prompted the movie's distributer to add it to 13 Montreal-area screens.
Turpin is a renowned filmmaker in his own right and has been described as the country’s best cinematographer by Eyeweekly.com.
In its review, the Toronto Star noted: “Graphic scenes of anti-female subjugation and brutality, religious and cultural bigotry and shattered taboos are captured by cinematographer André Turpin's skilled lens. So too, is the contrasting beauty of the land; the film was shot mainly in Jordan.”
Born in Hull, Quebec, Turpin now calls Montreal home and is known as an experimental, risk-taking director of photography. He has also collaborated with Villeneuve in the past on the films Maelström (2000) and Un 32 août sur terre (1998).
Turpin's other cinematography credits include Matroni et moi (1999), Because Why (1993) and La Comtesse de Bâton Rouge (1998).
His first try at directing a feature film was Zigrail (1995), produced by the indie company Jeux d'Ombres, followed by Un crabe dans la tête (2001).
Canada last garnered an Oscar nomination for best foreign language film in 2007 for Deepa Mehta's Water. The only Canadian film to have won in the category is director Denys Arcand’s The Barbarian Invasions, in 2004.
Watch André Turpin’s interview (begins at around the 3:15 mintue mark) on how studying at Concordia’s Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema contributed to his career:
Related links:
• 83rd Academy Awards
• Incendies movie trailer
• Toronto Star review of Incendies
• Concordia’s Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema