Philippe Falardeau’s Lovely Day (Mille Secrets Mille Dangers) is a coming-of-age drama disguised as a wedding movie.
Neil Elias delivers a layered performance as Alain, who experiences a crisis of anxiety on his wedding day. The non-linear narrative tells his story effectively, alternating between different periods of his youth and the present day. However, the ending feels rushed despite the general prolonged pace.
The delay in the disclosure of the exact cause of Alain’s pain and his off-putting persona make it a challenge to connect with the character and the film overall. There are comedic elements, but not nearly enough to lighten the somber dramatic tone.
Cinematographer André Turpin makes great use of Montreal locations, and Martin Léon’s score, which is infused with Middle Eastern rhythms, is fantastic.
You can listen to the music from the film, including Léon’s wonderful arrangements of Shostakovich’s Waltz No. 2 from Eyes Wide Shut and Trevor Jones’ theme from The Last of the Mohicans, on the composer’s website martinleonfilmmusic.com/en/ .
Lovely Day is opening in Canadian theaters on July 19.
