Polytechnique

Denis Villeneuve’s profound dramatisation of the tragic Montreal Massacre.

Villeneuve explores a more devastating and realistic legacy of violence in this film based on the real life 1989 École Polytechnique massacre, in which a disturbed, misogynist shooter targeted female students.

Documenting the events primarily through the perspectives of a survivor and a witness, the film examines not only that fatal day, but also the long-term physical and psychological consequences. Although divisive, Polytechnique is a pivotal point in Villeneuve’s filmography, as the director gains confidence in his sweeping camerawork and in crafting mood and tone.