GABRIELLE
Starring Gabrielle Marion-Rivard, Alexandre Landry
Directed by Louise Archambault
As were introduced to Gabrielle (Gabrielle Marion-Rivard), shes in full voice and visibly ecstatic, singing at choir practice while exchanging flirtatious glances with the mutually smitten Martin (Alexandre Landry). And while such reverie seems to come naturally to this young woman, its increasingly harder to come by in Louise Archambaults moving, measured drama concerning her fiercely fought struggle for independence.
Born with Williams syndrome, Gabrielle routinely finds herself constantly denied the experiences that are commonplace in the pop songs she belts out with her special needs choir.
As Archambault illustrates, while most parents experience some measure of discomfort in acknowledging their childrens sexuality, that level of unease can red-line should those progeny be developmentally disabled. Consequently, Gabrielle and Martin discover that their infatuation has been cruelly deemed unacceptable by influential loved ones based largely on their chromosomal makeup.
Offering a wholly original spin on the Romeo and Juliet dynamic, Archambault evidently sympathizes with her protagonists yearning for the freedom to act on her desires. Yet, her storytelling remains clear-eyed, raising questions about whats achievable.
Marion-Rivard (who also suffers from Williams syndrome) is a wonderfully expressive performer, engagingly careening between pride and panic as Gabrielle undertakes challenges in hopes of proving her capabilities.
While much of the film hinges on low-key drama, gentle comedy and well-defined relationships, Archambault does indulge in a showy climax featuring Gabrielles choir joining Quebec music icon Robert Charlebois for a rendition of his swoon-inducing (and thematically significant) Lindberg. However, the most genuinely rousing moments are to be found its more graceful depictions of minor triumphs.
