Director: Louis Bélanger
Screenplay: Louis Bélanger, Alexis Martin
Producers: Michel Trudeau, Denise Robert, Daniel Louis, Fabienne Larouche
Starring: Sophie Bourgeois, Alice Morel-Michaud, Alexis Martin, Andrée Lachapelle, François Papineau, Clémence DesRochers
MPAA Rating: PG13
Running time: 113 min.

(3/5)

On the eve of his son’s funeral, Gilles is visiting his old neighbourhood, having a drink at the local pub when he encounters Bob, an old friend who, in another lifetime, was Gilles’ partner in crime. The small time crooks never pulled off a big heist but they share memories of a robbery gone wrong before Gilles unloads his current situation. With his son’s death weighing heavy on his heart, the pair make a plan to leave Montreal behind and head out into the country in search of release.

And so begins Louis Bélanger’s Route 132, the story of a man in search of a way out from the grief that has overtaken his life. Unexpectedly, Bélanger’s film isn’t all depression and long quiet rides along the Quebec countryside as the pair re-live their youthful lawbreaking but the laughs are minimal and Gilles’ grief permeates through the film and haunts the quiet countryside just as his youth and memories of things his son will never have a chance to do, haunt him throughout the road trip.

Besides being a story of self awakening, Bélanger’s film also feels like a love song to small town life that is quickly disappearing as the old die away and the young move out of towns and into the big city. Route 132, Quebec’s longest road, is peppered with these small towns and as we travel along with Bob and Gilles, we see how they’re shrinking and hear tales of the slow death of these places and there’s a feeling that perhaps this isn’t simply the story of Gilles trying to get over his son’s death but a film about the death of small town life.

Bélanger’s film is loaded with great performances, particularly from François Papineau whose Gilles is a mess of emotions. Papineau takes a grieving father and gives him depth and emotion beyond anger and pain and we occasionally see glimpses of the man he was. As for Bob, he’s a wild card, a man who has intentions for good things that tend to end badly and Alexis Martin brings quite a bit of comedy to the story which could easily have fallen trap to melodrama.

Route 132 is clearly the work of a talented filmmaker but I found the film’s pacing a little on the slow side of the ball and though it occasionally captured my attention with a bit of comedy or a beautiful scene, it simply wasn’t enough to enthral me. It does feature some wonderful moments and those, rather surprisingly considering the level of talent of these actors and how much time we spend with them, come when Bélanger shifts the scene to focus on the surroundings and we see a glimpse of fleeting small town living.

I didn’t feel the emotional connection to Route 132 that the trailer suggested but Bélanger’s film still provided enough good moments to recommend it. Just be sure to save it for a time when you’re looking for a quiet, meditative picture.

Route 132 is available on DVD and Blu-ray on January 18th.

DVD Extras: A photo gallery and extra scenes which are only available in French.