12-09-2018, 09:15 PM
Best IDU Classic Film Entry: The Boarding-School
Synopsis: The year is 1952. Daniel Brunet is a sixteen-year old student, who is enrolling at the prestigious St. Simone Academy, in rural Choisel province. Although St. Simone is a boarding school reserved for the wealthy, Daniel and his sister have been given a scholarship to attend since their parents are believed dead in the ongoing civil war known as the "Bloody Summer". The other students all come from upper-class backgrounds, while Daniel's family does not. The early scenes are primarily light-hearted and comedic, with the main focus being on the disconnect between Daniel and the other students. Daniel, for instance, is shocked to discover that the school has horses and that he must take dressage as a course, and is unable to master the fine dining offered in the school dining hall. His roommate at the school is Jean-Claude, the rebellious and charismatic heir to a hotel company who is overjoyed to be boarding with Daniel. They are fast friends after Jean-Claude takes pity on Daniel and shows him how to behave among the other students. Daniel and Jean-Claude have the same History teacher, Mr. Faure, whose class they enjoy greatly due to his engaging teaching style. Mr. Faure speaks up in Daniel's defense when the school's Headmaster tries to give him suspension for 'improper behavior', earning Mr. Faure Daniel's loyalty.
The second act begins as Daniel finds an injured bird on the school grounds. He takes it to Mr. Faure, and they agree to help it recover, despite the academy's no-animal policy. While Daniel is trying to sneak the bird into Mr. Faure's office the next day, he runs into Caroline, a female student at the school, leaving the office. She explains that she has been starting a "Current Affairs Society" at the school, with Mr. Faure as sponsor, and asks if Daniel wants to join. Daniel accepts, as does Jean-Claude later on. They, along with several other members (Nicole, Robert, Jacqueline, and others) begin to hold meetings to discuss current events, with Mr. Faure guiding debate. Daniel brings his own perspective as the only non-wealthy person at the club, while he is impressed with Caroline's knowledge and wit. The topic coming up most frequently is the ongoing civil war between supporters of the left-wing government and a large segment of the military led by would-be dictator Alain Mette. News on the progress of the war is restricted by the Headmaster, and discussion of it forbidden, since many of the parents of the students attending the Academy support opposing sides. The club provides a way for the students to discuss and swap rumors about the war, despite this being a violation of school rules.
The focus of the film gradually shifts from Daniel's classes to his role in the club. Various other students, including Nicole (Caroline's roommate), Robert (one of the only Rén students at the boarding school), and Jacqueline (whose parents are prominent supporters of Alain Mette) are introduced, and their discussions are featured, with Mr. Faure subtly shifting the conversation in an anti-Mette direction. At one point, Headmaster Muller comes upon the club unexpectedly, and only by having Daniel delay him are the students able to hide the evidence of their proscribed discussion. The club holds a meeting one day in early winter, with Caroline bringing a rumor that Alain Mette's army is advancing through the province. The meeting is interrupted by the sounds of gunfire outside, and soon rebel soldiers are marching along the road near the school. A group of soldiers tries to come into the school to occupy and loot it, but are furiously turned away by Mr. Faure and other teachers. School resumes as normal, but with soldiers camped on the school grounds outside, whom the students are warned against fraternizing with.
Daniel, meanwhile, has become romantically attracted to Caroline, and is trying to work up the courage to ask her to the school's upcoming Winter Ball, with Jean-Claude trying to help him do so. He asks her after class one day, and she says that she is unsure. Daniel is on his way back to his dormitory when a group of boys confront him in the hallway, but he is saved by Jean-Claude's timely arrival. Caroline is shown asking her roommate, Nicole for advice. Nicole counsels her to accept, saying that "maybe this Daniel will make you happy, and if not, than you haven't lost anything". Caroline tells Daniel the next day that she will go with him. At the Winter Ball, Caroline and a Daniel overjoyed with his good fortune are in the middle of a dance when rebel soldiers run in, bearing an arrest warrant for Mr. Faure, who they claim is an "enemy agent" who has been spreading "treasonous propaganda". Mr. Faure, who had been at the Ball, has disappeared somewhere, and when the students and teachers have no knowledge of where he is, the soldiers announce that they will search the Academy grounds. Daniel and Caroline slip off, hoping to find and warn Mr. Faure. They first search his office, where Caroline spots some proscribed newspapers urging resistance to Mette's forces. They grab them and slip off, using the school's back corridors to avoid the patrolling soldiers. Despite several close calls along the way, the two eventually find Mr. Faure, hiding in the attic. The three of them escape right before the soldiers enter, climbing across the roof while still in formal clothing to escape to the edge of the school grounds. Daniel asks Mr. Faure what he will do next, and he replies that he will escape to relatives in Laeralsford. Daniel and Caroline offer to go with him, but he refuses, saying that it is too dangerous. He urges them to keep up the Current Affairs Society, and to resist the rebels in whatever way possible. Caroline and Daniel express their sadness that he is going, and then he bids them farewell, slipping off into the night. Caroline and Daniel sneak back into their dormitories and say goodnight to one another. As the credits begin to play, we see Caroline and Daniel holding hands and watching as the soldiers, having failed to find Mr. Faure, march away from the school.
Languages: Originally in French
Main Characters:
Daniel: Olivier Beauvais
Caroline: Evelyne Courtois
Mr. Faure: Joseph Delmas
Jean-Claude: Albert Gomes
Nicole: Delphine Brunet
Robert: Michael Chang
Jacqueline: Rachel Aubry
Headmaster Muller: Patrice Joly
Filmed in 1989, The Boarding-School is based loosely on the director, Antoine Hamel's, experiences during the Bloody Summer, and seeks to capture both the innocence of his life at the boarding school and the very real danger of the Bloody Summer. Many Laeralites who had lived through the Bloody Summer empathized with the work, while it's mockery of snobbery and class differences struck a chord with many living in a period of rising income inequality. The film overall was very well-received, and inspired a number of other films seeking to feature the lives of children and teenagers.
[/hr]
Best Actor in an IDU Film: Olivier Beauvais
Actor Information: Olivier Beauvais was born in 1971, in the Laeralsford suburbs. He expressed an interest in acting at a young age, excelling in drama classes throughout his childhood before becoming a Theatrical Arts graduate at the prestigious National Institute for the Arts. From there, Beauvais moved into the theater world, beginning with Shakespeare and other stage classics before landing his first major role as Rev. John Hale in the first-ever Laeralian production of The Crucible by Arthur Miller, which won him great acclaim. Concurrent with his time on the stage was his career in film, starting with 1989's The Boarding-School. From there, he began to take more film roles, largely in high-brow productions. In 2017's Brushstrokes, he played the Marquis de Corday, an enigmatic nobleman and conspirator. Beauvais continues to act today. His nomination draws the attention of the judges to his role in The Boarding-School as Daniel, his first ever film role. In the film, he brings his skills from the stage to the silver screen, providing an extraordinarily believable and vibrant depiction of a teenager. His varying interactions with others spotlight his acting skill.
[/hr]
Best Documentary/Non-fiction Film: What's In a Name?
Synopsis: What's In a Name? delves deep into the history, meaning, and cultural significance of names in Laeral. Moving chronologically, the film begins by discussing the "60 Families", or the sixty familial names that virtually all Rén have one of. The film explores the historical edicts that established the special status of these names. The film then moves into a discussion of the words and characters used in Rén names, 'painting' many of them on the screen in ink to illustrate the significance and meaning of each one. The film addresses the names favored by Arrivée upon colonization, and how many of these names were adopted as the names of Laeralian provinces. The film also covers the 'Rén Naming' movement of the 1970s, which sought to promote the use of traditional Rén rather than Arrivée names for Rén children as a source of pride in Rén cultural heritage. The film ends by analyzing trends in current Laeralian names, seeking to paint a picture of how social pressures, tradition, and the hopes that children will be successful impacts the names children in Laeral are given.
Release Information: Released February 2018 in French and Min Chinese
Directed by Thomas Bai and Morgane Xun
Synopsis: The year is 1952. Daniel Brunet is a sixteen-year old student, who is enrolling at the prestigious St. Simone Academy, in rural Choisel province. Although St. Simone is a boarding school reserved for the wealthy, Daniel and his sister have been given a scholarship to attend since their parents are believed dead in the ongoing civil war known as the "Bloody Summer". The other students all come from upper-class backgrounds, while Daniel's family does not. The early scenes are primarily light-hearted and comedic, with the main focus being on the disconnect between Daniel and the other students. Daniel, for instance, is shocked to discover that the school has horses and that he must take dressage as a course, and is unable to master the fine dining offered in the school dining hall. His roommate at the school is Jean-Claude, the rebellious and charismatic heir to a hotel company who is overjoyed to be boarding with Daniel. They are fast friends after Jean-Claude takes pity on Daniel and shows him how to behave among the other students. Daniel and Jean-Claude have the same History teacher, Mr. Faure, whose class they enjoy greatly due to his engaging teaching style. Mr. Faure speaks up in Daniel's defense when the school's Headmaster tries to give him suspension for 'improper behavior', earning Mr. Faure Daniel's loyalty.
The second act begins as Daniel finds an injured bird on the school grounds. He takes it to Mr. Faure, and they agree to help it recover, despite the academy's no-animal policy. While Daniel is trying to sneak the bird into Mr. Faure's office the next day, he runs into Caroline, a female student at the school, leaving the office. She explains that she has been starting a "Current Affairs Society" at the school, with Mr. Faure as sponsor, and asks if Daniel wants to join. Daniel accepts, as does Jean-Claude later on. They, along with several other members (Nicole, Robert, Jacqueline, and others) begin to hold meetings to discuss current events, with Mr. Faure guiding debate. Daniel brings his own perspective as the only non-wealthy person at the club, while he is impressed with Caroline's knowledge and wit. The topic coming up most frequently is the ongoing civil war between supporters of the left-wing government and a large segment of the military led by would-be dictator Alain Mette. News on the progress of the war is restricted by the Headmaster, and discussion of it forbidden, since many of the parents of the students attending the Academy support opposing sides. The club provides a way for the students to discuss and swap rumors about the war, despite this being a violation of school rules.
The focus of the film gradually shifts from Daniel's classes to his role in the club. Various other students, including Nicole (Caroline's roommate), Robert (one of the only Rén students at the boarding school), and Jacqueline (whose parents are prominent supporters of Alain Mette) are introduced, and their discussions are featured, with Mr. Faure subtly shifting the conversation in an anti-Mette direction. At one point, Headmaster Muller comes upon the club unexpectedly, and only by having Daniel delay him are the students able to hide the evidence of their proscribed discussion. The club holds a meeting one day in early winter, with Caroline bringing a rumor that Alain Mette's army is advancing through the province. The meeting is interrupted by the sounds of gunfire outside, and soon rebel soldiers are marching along the road near the school. A group of soldiers tries to come into the school to occupy and loot it, but are furiously turned away by Mr. Faure and other teachers. School resumes as normal, but with soldiers camped on the school grounds outside, whom the students are warned against fraternizing with.
Daniel, meanwhile, has become romantically attracted to Caroline, and is trying to work up the courage to ask her to the school's upcoming Winter Ball, with Jean-Claude trying to help him do so. He asks her after class one day, and she says that she is unsure. Daniel is on his way back to his dormitory when a group of boys confront him in the hallway, but he is saved by Jean-Claude's timely arrival. Caroline is shown asking her roommate, Nicole for advice. Nicole counsels her to accept, saying that "maybe this Daniel will make you happy, and if not, than you haven't lost anything". Caroline tells Daniel the next day that she will go with him. At the Winter Ball, Caroline and a Daniel overjoyed with his good fortune are in the middle of a dance when rebel soldiers run in, bearing an arrest warrant for Mr. Faure, who they claim is an "enemy agent" who has been spreading "treasonous propaganda". Mr. Faure, who had been at the Ball, has disappeared somewhere, and when the students and teachers have no knowledge of where he is, the soldiers announce that they will search the Academy grounds. Daniel and Caroline slip off, hoping to find and warn Mr. Faure. They first search his office, where Caroline spots some proscribed newspapers urging resistance to Mette's forces. They grab them and slip off, using the school's back corridors to avoid the patrolling soldiers. Despite several close calls along the way, the two eventually find Mr. Faure, hiding in the attic. The three of them escape right before the soldiers enter, climbing across the roof while still in formal clothing to escape to the edge of the school grounds. Daniel asks Mr. Faure what he will do next, and he replies that he will escape to relatives in Laeralsford. Daniel and Caroline offer to go with him, but he refuses, saying that it is too dangerous. He urges them to keep up the Current Affairs Society, and to resist the rebels in whatever way possible. Caroline and Daniel express their sadness that he is going, and then he bids them farewell, slipping off into the night. Caroline and Daniel sneak back into their dormitories and say goodnight to one another. As the credits begin to play, we see Caroline and Daniel holding hands and watching as the soldiers, having failed to find Mr. Faure, march away from the school.
Languages: Originally in French
Main Characters:
Daniel: Olivier Beauvais
Caroline: Evelyne Courtois
Mr. Faure: Joseph Delmas
Jean-Claude: Albert Gomes
Nicole: Delphine Brunet
Robert: Michael Chang
Jacqueline: Rachel Aubry
Headmaster Muller: Patrice Joly
Filmed in 1989, The Boarding-School is based loosely on the director, Antoine Hamel's, experiences during the Bloody Summer, and seeks to capture both the innocence of his life at the boarding school and the very real danger of the Bloody Summer. Many Laeralites who had lived through the Bloody Summer empathized with the work, while it's mockery of snobbery and class differences struck a chord with many living in a period of rising income inequality. The film overall was very well-received, and inspired a number of other films seeking to feature the lives of children and teenagers.
[/hr]
Best Actor in an IDU Film: Olivier Beauvais
Actor Information: Olivier Beauvais was born in 1971, in the Laeralsford suburbs. He expressed an interest in acting at a young age, excelling in drama classes throughout his childhood before becoming a Theatrical Arts graduate at the prestigious National Institute for the Arts. From there, Beauvais moved into the theater world, beginning with Shakespeare and other stage classics before landing his first major role as Rev. John Hale in the first-ever Laeralian production of The Crucible by Arthur Miller, which won him great acclaim. Concurrent with his time on the stage was his career in film, starting with 1989's The Boarding-School. From there, he began to take more film roles, largely in high-brow productions. In 2017's Brushstrokes, he played the Marquis de Corday, an enigmatic nobleman and conspirator. Beauvais continues to act today. His nomination draws the attention of the judges to his role in The Boarding-School as Daniel, his first ever film role. In the film, he brings his skills from the stage to the silver screen, providing an extraordinarily believable and vibrant depiction of a teenager. His varying interactions with others spotlight his acting skill.
[/hr]
Best Documentary/Non-fiction Film: What's In a Name?
Synopsis: What's In a Name? delves deep into the history, meaning, and cultural significance of names in Laeral. Moving chronologically, the film begins by discussing the "60 Families", or the sixty familial names that virtually all Rén have one of. The film explores the historical edicts that established the special status of these names. The film then moves into a discussion of the words and characters used in Rén names, 'painting' many of them on the screen in ink to illustrate the significance and meaning of each one. The film addresses the names favored by Arrivée upon colonization, and how many of these names were adopted as the names of Laeralian provinces. The film also covers the 'Rén Naming' movement of the 1970s, which sought to promote the use of traditional Rén rather than Arrivée names for Rén children as a source of pride in Rén cultural heritage. The film ends by analyzing trends in current Laeralian names, seeking to paint a picture of how social pressures, tradition, and the hopes that children will be successful impacts the names children in Laeral are given.
Release Information: Released February 2018 in French and Min Chinese
Directed by Thomas Bai and Morgane Xun