“Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves is one of the most indelible and audacious works to emerge from Quebec and Canada in recent memory.” - Steve Gravestock, TIFF
Two hundred thousand university students took to the streets of Montreal protesting the raise in college tuitions in 2012. When the government withdrew the regulation, many participants deserted what was called the 'Maple Springs' movement, but there were many who did not want to stop there. To them, the student groups had sold out to a corrupt system rather than holding on to force more meaningful change. Both the title and the feel of the movie stem from this belief. Is it possible to create meaningful change through civic action in the 21st century? Mathieu Denis and Simone Lavoie follow four young, far-left activists and their effort to fight against the capitalist system in the aftermath of the Maple Spring -- by vandalizing and terrorizing their city. Regardless of their actions, their dream of mobilising an uprising is captured in a poetic cinematic style.
2016 TORONTO
Mathieu Denis studied cinema at L'Université du Québec à Montréal. His short films Silent Remains (2006) and Code 13 (2007) and his feature Corbo (2014) have all been screened at festivals. Simon Lavoie studied cinema and screenwriting at L'Université du Québec à Montréal. He has directed several short films and his features include The Deserter (2008), Le Torrent (2012). With Mathieu Denis, he directed Laurentie (2011).
