The Last Meal / Le dernier repas

A powerful story of the traumas suffered by Haitians during the Duvalier regime and their long-lasting effects on families, this drama marks a confident shift to feature filmmaking by documentarian Maryse Legagneur. Gilbert Laumord stars as Reynold, a Montreal man with terminal stomach cancer. Before he goes, he has a chance to repair his relationship with Vanessa (Marie-Evelyne Lessard), his long-estranged daughter. Retold as he eats his daughter’s efforts to replicate his favourite meals from back home, Reynold’s stories of his experiences in Haiti – including his brutal incarceration – become Vanessa’s own opportunity to understand the impact they had on her father. The grand prize winner at the Quebec City Film Festival, Legagneur’s film brings a dark chapter in history into the light with great courage and sensitivity.

Histoire puissante qui raconte les traumatismes subis par les Haïtiens sous le régime Duvalier et leurs effets durables sur les familles, ce drame marque un tournant confiant vers le long métrage pour la documentariste Maryse Legagneur. Gilbert Laumord incarne Reynold, un Montréalais atteint d’un cancer de l’estomac en phase terminale. Avant de partir, il a l’occasion de réparer sa relation avec Vanessa (Marie-Évelyne Lessard), sa fille longtemps éloignée. Racontées alors qu’il déguste les efforts de Vanessa pour recréer ses plats préférés d’Haïti, les histoires de Reynold sur ses expériences dans son pays natal – notamment son incarcération brutale – deviennent pour Vanessa une opportunité de comprendre l’impact qu’elles ont eu sur son père. Lauréat du grand prix au Festival de cinéma de Québec, le film de Legagneur éclaire avec courage et sensibilité un chapitre sombre de l’histoire.

Thanks to our friends and supporters at Le Centre Culturel Frontenac for providing translation services!

Director: Maryse Legagneur

Cast: Gilbert Laumord, Marie-Evelyne Lessard, Fabrice Yvnoff Sénat, Mirellie Metellus, Jean Jean

Language: French (with English subtitles)

Runtime: 111 minutes

Content advisory: 

MARIE-EVELYNE LESSARD, ACTOR

Marie-Evelyne Lessard is a Canadian film and television actor best known for her performance in the 2012 film FAIR SEX (LES MANEGES HUMAINE), which earned her a Jutra Award nomination for Best Actress in 2014. Her other notable credits include the films VILLE-MARIE, THE DECLINE, and FANMI; television series such as Unité 9, Les Argonautes, Trauma, and 19-2, and the web series Féminin.

PRESENTED WITH SUPPORT FROM