Stars Chloë Sevigny, Lily McInerny on ‘amazing Canadian women' behind ‘Bonjour Tristesse'
TORONTO - There's a lot left unsaid between the women in 'Bonjour Tristesse,' an exploration of complicated relationships in which the camera at times lingers on routine gestures in lieu of dialogue – exchanged glances, a character's hands, the systematic steps in removing one's earrings.
Its U.S. stars heaped praise on Montreal-based writer/director Durga Chew-Bose for displaying a detailed, confident vision for her first film, based on Françoise Sagan's 1954 novel of the same name and set during a teen's seaside vacation with her playboy father and his girlfriend.
Lily McInerny's perceptive Cécile is rankled when her late mother's friend, Anne, played by Chloë Sevigny, suddenly turns up at their sun-dappled French villa, leading to a stew of complicated emotions that simmer below the surface.
McInerny called it a 'challenging, but also a really pure approach to performance.'
'I really enjoyed the exercise of feeling just as clearly and as pointedly and as powerfully as I could, and then seeing how that manifested itself visually through my body and expression,' McInerny said during a round of interviews when the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last September.
Seated next to her, Sevigny notes that so many things in life go unsaid, especially between close family members who may develop a silent shorthand to communicate.
'One glance with a mother, brother or father or daughter can tell so much. And I think that's part of the beauty of watching the movie – is thinking about your own relationships and just sitting with these people and watching them move through rooms,' Sevigny says.
'Durga was very into that, you know – how does one have different rituals, like removing the earrings? Because everybody has these patterns in which they move in, and she really wanted to explore that.'
The Canada-Germany co-production was shot in France with a global cast including Denmark's Claes Bang of 'The Square,' France's Naïlia Harzoune and French-Canadian actor/musician Aliocha Schneider.
Sevigny credited Toronto-based producers Lindsay Tapscott and Katie Bird Nolan – 'two amazing Canadian women' – with helping to ensure that Chew-Bose could realize her vision.
'Just having two women in a position of power on a set really dictates a mood, a sensitivity. And they really wanted to get Durga everything she desired for the movie. And they really fought for her, and for her ideas, and the way she wanted to tell the story,' she says.
'You could feel that. It was palpable throughout the set, every day. Just even how they boarded the script and the schedule and in allowing Durga time with the actors. It was, overall, just an amazing experience.'
Though McInerny is also early in her career, she says she was impressed by Chew-Bose's sensitivity, calmness and clarity.
'It was as if it were her 20th (film). You could not tell in any way that this was actually her first time stepping onto a set, and I think that is just a testament to her talent, and magic.'
'Bonjour Tristesse' hits theatres Friday. It becomes available for rent June 13.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business of Fashion
23 minutes ago
- Business of Fashion
Who Would Pay $20,000 For a Hamburger Ring?
'Square cut or pear shape, these rocks won't lose their shape,' sings Marilyn Monroe's Lorelei Lee, fit with a sparkling Art Deco diamond collar and cuffs, in the 1953 classic 'Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend.' Today, Lee might have more flexible tastes. A new wave of designers are proving women don't just want any old diamonds — they want diamonds in the form of cherry earrings, zodiac charms, rings that say 'press for champagne,' and bracelets that mimic coiled wires and spell out 'I <3 U,' too. Novelty fine jewellery is having a moment. Designers including Lauren Harwell Godfrey, Carolina Bucci, Nadine Ghosn, Lauren Rubinski and Marie Lichtenberg pair the seriousness of their materials (18 karat gold, diamonds, rubies and emeralds) with an irreverent approach previously associated more with fashion and costume jewellery. Though the designs are light, they come with a hefty price tag: Ghosn's stacked ring made to look like a hamburger goes for over $25,000, while an apple pendant from London-based Jessica McCormack's Summer 2025 fruit salad collection runs $10,000 — and a polished emerald pearl and diamond piece is priced upon request. Meaghan Flynn Petropoulos, founder of the jewellery showroom Necessary Excess, said such pieces were a small part of even the more avant-garde leaning collections she carried just a few years ago. But retailers' interest is rising, and more brands are putting out entire collections based around funky motifs. The novelty factor is helping to keep jewellery sales growing even as overall spending on luxury goods is in a global slump. Last year the jewellery market grew 2 percent, while apparel declined 2 percent, according to Bain & Company. There are plenty of reasons for the two categories to diverge, but a big element is that shoppers are looking for a distraction, and a cute, diamond encrusted frog ring provides exactly that. 'In times of trouble or uncertainty you want pretty things,' said Frank Everett, vice chairman of jewellery at Sotheby's. 'People want things that make them happy,' The more playful approach is also in line with fashion's decades-long trend toward casualisation, said Melinda Zeman, founder of Hong Kong-based label Boochier. Shoppers want diamonds they can wear with their jeans, to the grocery store, or to the beach. McCormack, who sells a collection of what she calls 'Day Diamonds,' said she's seen a number of requests for anklets recently. 'People don't want to wear a seven karat solitaire out because it feels so dressy,' said Zeman. 'The way people dress has changed.' Jewellery's Novelty Bug Novelty and play have always flourished in jewellery, said Everett. Cartier's Nail and Love bracelets, based on nails and screws, were created by Juste Un Clou in 1971 and continue to drive sales for the brand. In the 19th century, designers were obsessed with natural forms including realistic bugs, in the 1930s, whimsy was everywhere, said Everett, who added some of Sotheby's recent hits recently have been a Raymond Yard broach shaped like a house, and a martini charm bracelet from the collection of Bunny Mellon. Independent designers kicked off the latest novelty wave. 'When I did the burger in 2016, everyone was like 'no one is going to buy that with 18 Karat gold and diamonds',' said Ghosn, who also makes paper clip bracelets, a ruby 'low battery' necklace, french fry cufflinks and bangle made to look like a bent spoon. 'There was zero appetite and zero risk taking with regards to something different than the conventional.' After putting out the pencil bracelet a decade ago, she steadily sold around 20 per year. This year, she has exceeded 100 orders — and even launched a new 'chewed' edition, fit with bite marks. McCormack's brand, known for its chandelier earrings, torque necklaces and engagement rings, has dropped smiley face pendants and 'Hello Sailor,' nautical collection featuring striped pearls and fishhook pendants. To her surprise, even her highest-echelon of serious clientele bought into the playful pieces. For jewellery customers that already have the basics, novelty offers a new incentive to purchase. 'It's tongue-in-cheek, the world of diamonds can be very serious,' the designer said. Women buying their own jewellery — as opposed to waiting for men to buy it for them, a historically large but gradually shrinking share of the market – are also more open to bolder pieces. Zeman launched Boochier after she couldn't find anything to commemorate the birth of her third child. 'Everything felt so classic and extremely feminine,' said Zeman. 'Nothing I saw represented what I wanted to wear myself.' Now, she sells a range of curly gold bracelets made to look like slinkys, earrings that mimic tetris pieces and collars and bangles made of customisable Gameboy-inspired letters: one recent commission read 'Howdy Yall.' The most out-there designs also tend to market themselves, spreading by word of mouth and on social media. Designer Carolina Bucci first built a name for herself with the 'lucky bracelet,' 18 karat gold woven to look like a friendship bracelet (and worn by Carrie Bradshaw throughout the last season of 'Sex and the City'). Her Forte Beads, which imitate the breezy colourful plastic beads children play with (starting at $1,370 and $690 respectively) pop on social media. 'Jewelry is not easy to photograph and to transmit the intricacy or preciousness of it … anything to do with the beads gets so much more attention and spread because it's visually easier,' said Bucci. Growing Difficulties The appeal of novelty often goes beyond its tone. It's technically challenging to get the agate, tiger's eye, jasper, lapis lazuli and amethyst she uses for her beads into that exact shape with a wide hole, said Bucci. Ghosn chose to make a bracelet of heart-shaped colour diamonds when she collaborated with Swiss diamond label Gubelin in March because it's challenging to cut diamonds into that shape, she said. One of Lichtenberg's signatures is a $31,240 pendant made to look like a magic eight ball toy. 'It's like [doing] triple flips in ice skating,' said Lichtenberg. 'It looks easy [because] my pieces are laid back and funky, but the intricacy and difficulty is cool.' How brands showcase these designs is often more casual, and social-first — marked by shots of wrist stacks, necklaces over T-shirts and even next to candy necklaces in the case of Boochier. 'I'm not polished, I'm not photoshopping,' said Ghosn. 'I think [traditional brands] are surprised to see a product can remain that high a luxury item without that perfection.' The approach makes clients feel like they can DM questions, like what a piece looks like in a different size, or next to specific colour, said Zeman. But amid the play, market headwinds are building. The rising price of gold is creating uncertainty that could make already risky experimentation more difficult. Litchenberg said the price of gold 'killed [her] margins in the last three to four months.' Shoppers are already pushing back against ultra-high prices in other luxury categories, such as handbags. Still, everything is getting more expensive, said Ghosn, which makes it all the more important for brands to offer something different and personal. Plus, this approach started resonating more post-pandemic when people needed a pick-me-up — and they still do, said Flynn Petropoulos. 'The things that are compelling people to spend right now are based on a feeling,' said Flynn Petropoulos. 'We're not in a space politically where anyone is looking for anything less than uplifting … If people can invest in something that maintains its value literally [in the price of gold] and figuratively in their mood, I don't see [the trend] slowing down.'
Business of Fashion
23 minutes ago
- Business of Fashion
What's Driving the Filipina Influencer Takeover
A Louis Vuitton runway seat is a notoriously tough 'get' for the Paris fashion flock. The benches are narrow, the celebrities are Oscar-level and the demand to see the latest painted pochettes in person means that even some prominent editors and social media stars receive a respectful but swift 'non' from the French mogul brand. Heart Evangelista's invite, however, is never lost in the mail. The Manila-based actress, singer and model strolled into the Louis Vuitton show in Paris in March with the same black boots and monogrammed bag seen on Zendaya and Emma Stone. She also made appearances at Chloé, Dior, Fendi, Hermès, Versace and nearly a dozen more front rows. When I caught up with Evangelista between shows in Milan a few months back, she said it was 'a lot of fun and also a big privilege' to be a Filipina attending global fashion moments. 'It's so important to me that Filipina style is represented, because there's so much joy in it,' said 40-year-old Evangelista, who boasts over 16 million Instagram followers, and whose TikTok videos have been viewed over half a billion times. 'We have a real flair,' she continued, 'for making beauty into an expression of optimism.' Evangelista isn't the region's only star. There is Bini, a pop group with eight shimmying girls who have helped popularise holographic eyeshadow and blurry blush among their fans. There is Belle Rodolfo, a former Manila magazine editor who now works with brands like YSL Beauté and Sephora. And there is Kelsey Merritt, the first Fillipina to walk in a Victoria's Secret show who remains a Ralph Lauren muse. Merritt recently became paparazzi bait thanks to her new boyfriend, the actor Chace Crawford; since December, there has been a 500 percent increase in Pinterest content chronicling her style. 'We're a pretty small group of islands,' said Nicolette Santos, a Fillipina-American culture strategist for brands like Adidas, Colourpop and Hourglass Cosmetics who currently lives in Los Angeles. But the uniqueness of Filipino identity represents a broad range of connection points, a fact that may explain why influencers from the archipelago are becoming go-to creators for the beauty and fashion industries, and why their resonance goes far beyond the South Asian country with a population of 115 million. 'We're Asian. We're also Latino. We understand aspects of both cultures,' Santos continued. 'We understand colonialism and colourism. We're a Catholic culture but we have a huge and active queer community.' Because Filipino identity overlaps and intersects with so many other cultural folds, said Santos, the relatability is always there. A Culture of Beauty According to the 2023 census, in the US, about 4.6 million people identify as Filipino-Americans — the country's third largest Asian diaspora, including movie star Hailee Steinfeld and real estate billionaire Manny Villar. For many within that community, beauty is a family practice. 'We're a matriarchal culture, and there's always moms and aunts and grandmothers around,' said Melissa Magsaysay, a Filipina-American journalist who founded her clothing brand Duster last year after searching for a traditional Filipino house-dress in the style of mother and grandmother. (Think Hill House Home's 'nap dress', but with tailoring and visible pockets.) 'When you're hanging out with your family, someone is always fussing over your hair, your makeup, your outfit. Beauty awareness starts really early. It's part of playtime.' Santos explained that pageant culture is a staple of Filipino television stations. Poverty is rife, which can only deepen the commitment to glamour, she said. 'Being 'presentable' in our culture isn't seen as shallow; it's seen as community pride. Makeup is part of our cultural identity in a very deep way,' said Santos. Content creator Kristina Rodulfo is a first-generation Filipino-American who grew up in Queens, New York. A former beauty director at and Women's Health, Rodulfo is now a full-time influencer who regularly works with Sephora and has been an online face for Tatcha and Cover Girl. The 32-year-old confirmed her online engagement 'always goes up' when she connects current beauty trends or ingredients with her heritage, and created a newsletter — Pearl — devoted to Philippines beauty brands and founders in 2022. Rodulfo has observed a growing number of Filipino-American campaign stars like Olivia Rodrigo for Lancôme and H.E.R. for Dove. She also cites the nascent popularity of foods like Ube, a popular Filipino dessert and recent Tower 28 and Nyx Cosmetics lip gloss flavour. Still, Rodulfo said the opportunity for Filipino beauty brands is largely under-realised. 'There's a huge opportunity to fill this white space, culturally,' she said. 'I keep being like, 'Where is our [cool cult brand] Ceremonia? Where is our K-beauty?'' The Power of Filipino Faces In May, Condé Nast launched Allure Philippines with a cover featuring Evangelista alongside influencer Bretman Rock. The same month, Rock became a rare male spokesperson for Sol de Janeiro. Santos says that's not a coincidence. 'Drag culture is very much part of Filipino culture. Drag shows are always on TV. Even though parts of the Philippines are still very conservative, there is a deep and longtime love of queer culture in our community. Men are encouraged to be glamorous, too.' Santos said that Rock is a star in his home country, on par with Paris Hilton in America. Queer beauty icons like makeup artist Patrick Starrr and Perfect editor-in-chief Bryanboy also claim Filipino roots. Male-focused brands often flounder, even with a famous face. Because many male Filipino influencers have glamour already built into their identity, Rodulfo says they're more likely to read as genuine to possible shoppers. Evangelista has another theory about why the Philippines' beauty influencers are gaining popularity with American fans. 'It's an island climate! There's always rain and sun happening very close together. We know how to make our makeup last a very long time, no matter the weather.' As global warming turns New York summers into sub-tropical sloshes, and rainfall becomes more common — and more extreme — in formerly temperate locals like Southern California, sweat-proof essentials like powder-to-cream foundation, liquid eyeliner and hardcore setting spray are becoming more in-demand. 'Our glamour really lasts,' said Evangelista. Rodulfo agreed in a more literal sense, having just returned from a trip to Manila with her suitcase full of products from Filipino brands like Happy Skin and Sunnies Face. While she fears she overspent, Rodulfo believes the sweat-proof formulas were worth the splurge. 'When they're made by Filipino founders, I know I only have to apply them once.' Sign up to The Business of Beauty newsletter, your complimentary, must-read source for the day's most important beauty and wellness news and analysis. Disclosure: LVMH is part of a group of investors who, together, hold a minority interest in The Business of Fashion. All investors have signed shareholders' documentation guaranteeing BoF's complete editorial independence.
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Xbox Games Showcase 2025: Plague Tale Spin-Off Title, Resonance, Releasing in 2026
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy was officially announced at the Xbox Games Showcase 2025, after accidentally leaking on the internet just the day before. This new game coming from the French developers Asobo Studio boasts an original story, separate from mainline entries A Plague Tale: Innocence (2019) and A Plague Tale: Requiem (2022) and features Sophia, a pirate captain who encounters series protagonists Amicia and Hugo de Rune as they seek voyage to the island of La Cuna. The story of Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy takes place fifteen years before the events of A Plague Tale: Requiem, as a younger Sophia pursues her destiny of becoming the firm plunderer Amicia and Hugo know her to be. The trailer sees Sophia raiding tombs, traversing what very much seems to be Venice on a gondola and fighting off in a Spartan-like arena before uncovering the carcass, laden in strands of golden lights, of what seems to be the Minotaur. According to Studio Asobo, Resonance is looking to blend 'combat, myth and fate' as Sophia navigates between the 14th century and the time of the Ancient Greeks. In her quest, she must overcome mazes, traps and puzzles and escape a shadowy presence intent on deterring her from the mysterious island. Surprisingly, the hordes of rats which literally infested the world of the first two Plague Tale games, are nowhere to be found as of yet. CGM's reviews of both A Plague Tale: Innocence and A Plague Tale: Requiem have been glowing, with my colleague Zubi Khan describing the first entry as a 'engaging and dark story' and rewarding it with a 8.5 score and opining that the sequel feels 'imperative to fans of the original' and hailing it with a review score of 8/10. Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy will release in 2026 on Xbox Series X/S, Game Pass, PS5 and Steam. Be sure to check out all of the other announcements from the Xbox Games Showcase
