Cap Tourmente (1993)

Cap Tourmente Poster

Alex has a deeply troubled mind. He also has a seriously dysfunctional - not to say incestuous - family. Why then, has he returned from his merchant seaman job to the rocky coasts of his home? Perhaps he couldn't cut manage to march in his father's footsteps in that job. His mother doesn't seem to mind, and lets him stay at her bed and breakfast hotel. His sister still seems to have the hots for him, just as she does for his (and her) old boyfriend Jean-Louis, who has just shown up. Even his mother seems to find him sexy. All these people appear eager to get their hands on his body, but he's too wrapped up in what's going on inside his head to notice.

Overview
"Cap Tourmente" is a 1993 Canadian French-language drama movie directed by Michel Langlois. The film stars Roy Dupuis, Andrée Lachapelle, Gilbert Sicotte, and Élise Guilbault. It is a complex psycho-drama checking out the characteristics of a troubled family, set against the backdrop of the lovely Cap Tourmente's nature maintain.

Plot
The plot of "Cap Tourisme" focuses on the inefficient dynamic of the Leblanc household who run an Ostrich breeding farm in the Quebec countryside. The household includes the bedridden patriarch Albert, his long-suffering better half Estelle, their intellectually handicapped daughter Sandrine and their tormented boy Alex. Alex, played by Roy Dupuis, has an incestuous desire for his own sister, Sandrine. The family are haunted by their past, especially by Albert's abusive habits and the unforeseen death of Alex's identical twin brother Samuel.

The film unfolds as Alex, who had left home years earlier, returns after the death of his twin brother Samuel. He discovers the household ostrich farm on the edge of insolvency and his family in desperate condition. Meanwhile, a North American land developer shows up with a proposal that can possibly save the household and the farm. His offer becomes a source of dispute and the catalyst that unwinds reduced feelings, tricks, and incestuous desires within the family.

Style
"Cap Tourmente" delves into the tortured human mind and the darkness that lies underneath the seemingly tranquil family facades. This movie blends themes of ingrained family dispute, desire, repentance, and reconciliation. It brings to surface the confounding elements of humanity, the intricacies of familial relationships, and the squashing weight of life's dissatisfactions. The ostrich farm, in a way, symbolizes the family who, like ostriches, try to conceal from their problems, burying their heads in the sand to prevent facing severe truths.

Performance and Reception
"Cap Tourmente" is kept in mind for its effective performances, particularly by Roy Dupuis, who brilliantly portrays the distress and confusion of Alex. The cinematography of the movie is also admirable, capturing the spectacular landscapes of the Canadian countryside lending a poignant contrast to the doom-laden story.

Upon its release, the movie got mixed reviews. Critics applauded the movie for its brave representation of unpleasant styles and Dupuis' powerful efficiency, however, some felt that the movie's story was too complicated and heavy, making it difficult to digest.

Conclusion
"Cap Tourmente" is an engaging expedition of a family grappling with their satanic forces and the push and pull in between desire and morality. It stays among the landmark French Canadian films for its vibrant storytelling and exploration of taboo subjects. Despite its mixed reception and questionable styles, the movie's durability and continued conversation among movie enthusiasts is a testimony to its thought-provoking narrative. "Cap Tourmente" is a film that artfully incorporates human frailties, sensational landscapes, contrasting sights, and social taboos into a vibrant cinematic collage.

Top Cast

  • Roy Dupuis (small)
    Roy Dupuis
    Alex O'Neil
  • Élise Guilbault (small)
    Élise Guilbault
    Alfa O'Neil
  • Andrée Lachapelle (small)
    Andrée Lachapelle
    Jeanne O'Neil
  • Gilbert Sicotte (small)
    Gilbert Sicotte
    Jean-Louis McKenzie
  • Luc Picard (small)
    Luc Picard
    Wilfrid Bourgault
  • Macha Limonchik (small)
    Macha Limonchik
    Barbara Kruger
  • Gabriel Gascon (small)
    Gabriel Gascon
    Monsieur Simon
  • Michèle Deslauriers (small)
    Michèle Deslauriers
    Madame Huot
  • Caroline Dhavernas (small)
    Caroline Dhavernas
    Valerie Huot
  • André Brassard (small)
    André Brassard
    Jos
  • Roger Léger (small)
    Roger Léger
    Huissiers