Nine Quebec teens act out their wildest dreams while a camera watches—what could possibly go wrong?
In this French Canadian film, the lives of teenagers are examined in fantasy sequences and through the use of documentary interviews. Prompted by the filmmaker, nine teenagers individually act out their secret dreams and, between times, talk about their world as they see it. The fantasy sequences make creative use of animation, unusual film-development techniques, and stills. Babette conceives of herself as an abbess defending her fortress, a convent; Michelle is transported in a dream of love where all time ceases; Philippe is the revolutionary, defeating all the institutions that plague him, and so on, through all their fantasies. All the actual preoccupations of youth are raised: authority, drugs, social conflict, sex. Jutra's style in "Wow" exhibits his innovative approach to storytelling and filmmaking, showcasing his talents as a director during that period. With English subtitles.
Direction
Jutra's hybrid doc-fiction wizardry
Cinematography
Hand-processed film experiments and animation
Production
DIY fantasy sequences on shoestring budget
Director
Claude Jutra
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shot during Quebec's Quiet Revolution, when youth were literally reimagining their society—Jutra caught lightning in a bottle.
The 'documentary' interviews were heavily directed by Jutra, who fed teens prompts—blurring truth and performance was entirely intentional.
CA
