If you’re a fan of the L’Œil du cyclone series, the Quebec film Le cyclone de Noël (2024) is a must-see! Starring Christine Beaulieu and Véronique Cloutier, this feature film not only conquered the box office, but is also up for two awards at the Gala Québec Cinéma, including Alain Chicoine ‘s nomination for Best First Film.
With voting for the Prix Michel-Côté closed on November 2, the entire team is holding its breath as we await the results, to be announced on December 7. And yet, to understand the origins of this success, we have to go back to its place of creation: Montreal, the real backdrop for this cinematic adventure.
Unlike the series, the film required a production base worthy of the cinema, and it was the metropolis that provided everything. The heart of the shoot took place at Grandé Studios, located in the LaSalle borough. It was here that the entire original cast of L’Œil du cyclone was assembled for the feature film, a considerable advantage for the production, which didn’t have to look for its actors.
The choice of a 100% Quebec production enabled the film to be made at record speed, bypassing lengthy financing processes thanks to the confidence of local distributors(Les Films Opale, KO Distribution) and Radio-Canada.
As the outdoor shoots took place without natural snowflakes, director Alain Chicoine had to create the icy atmosphere himself. His trick was simple: before shouting “Action! he asked the actors to imagine it was -10°C! It was a local style of directing that paid off: when you see the actors all tensed up on screen, you can’t help but believe it!
In the end, it was the attachment to family traditions, so dear to Quebecers and so well represented in the film, that guided the lead actress. Christine Beaulieu, a self-confessed Christmas fan, dreamed of Le cyclone de Noël becoming an annual classic, joining the ranks of cult films such as La guerre des tuques and 23 décembre that we love to see again and again, year after year, in our Quebec homes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JW7lGtvXyI
After the thrill of the film, prolong the enchantment by treating yourself to the most sublime experience of the holiday season! Let yourself be enveloped by the golden light of Candlelight’s special Christmas concerts, which transform Montreal’s most majestic venues. The power of Christmas classics played by a string quartet in golden silence becomes an invitation to a timeless moment, a gift of absolute wonder to share with friends and family.