The Four Soldiers (French: Les 4 soldats) is a 2013 Canadian drama film written and directed by Robert Morin, and adapted from Hubert Mingarelli’s novel Quatre soldats. Set during a future civil war in Quebec, the film stars Camille Mongeau, Christian de la Cortina, Antoine Bertrand and Aliocha Schneider. It premiered at the 2013 Fantasia Film Festival, where it won the Prix du public for Best Canadian Film.
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Synopsis
In a future Quebec marked by civil war, the wealthy are supported by the army while the poor fight in militias. Dominique, Matéo, Big Max and Kevin are four young soldiers in one such group. While stationed in the countryside, they form a makeshift family and discover a secluded pond that becomes a refuge from the war. Their fragile escape is unsettled when they are ordered to take the young Gabriel into their care.
Cast
The cast includes:
Camille Mongeau as Dominique
Christian de la Cortina as Matéo
Antoine Bertrand as Big Max
Aliocha Schneider as Kevin
Antoine L'Écuyer as Gabriel
Gaston Caron as Corporal Guénette
Rémy Ouellet as Lieutenant Larivière
Jean-Pierre Bergeron as Commander Lacoste
Production
The film was directed and written by Robert Morin, based on the novel Quatre soldats by Hubert Mingarelli. Filming took place on Montreal’s South Shore in August 2012. The film had an approximate budget of C$2.9 million.
Release
The film premiered at the Fantasia Film Festival on August 5, 2013, before going into theatrical release in Quebec on August 16, 2013.
Reception
Critical response
The Hollywood Reporter described the film as a "quiet, introspective picture" that played less like a war film than "a dreamy cousin" to science-fiction apocalypse films. The review wrote that the film was less effective in depicting the collapse of the soldiers' refuge.
Awards and nominations
At the 2013 Fantasia International Film Festival, the film won the Prix du public for Best Canadian Film. The film received two nominations at the 16th Jutra Awards in 2014, for Best Makeup for Kathryn Casault and Best Hairstyling for Denis Parent.
Festival screenings
The film was later screened at the 2013 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, the 2013 Festival international du cinéma francophone en Acadie, the 2013 Cinéma du Québec à Paris, the 2014 Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois, and the 2014 Beijing International Film Festival.