Cette Maison – TIFF Canada’s Top Ten 2022

Cette Maison

Filmmaker Miryam Charles dramatizes what it could’ve been like if her murdered cousin was still alive in . Tessa () was born in 1994 in Stamford and died in 2008 in Bridgeport. The daughter of Haitian immigrant Valeska (), Tessa’s life before and after her death is told in a series of what-if fantasies. This includes mother and daughter having conversations with each other that they would never have.

Cette Maison Synopsis

Cette Maison (This House) is a hybrid of documentary and fantasy written and directed by Miryam Charles. The film reflects on Miryam’s cousin Tessa, who was murdered by strangulation at 14. However, the film doesn’t delve into the murder itself and imagines what it would’ve been like if Tessa had been alive and able to still interact with her family. The film also tackles sociopolitical issues, such as this Hatian-immigrant family’s response to the 1995 Quebec referendum.

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My Thoughts on Cette Maison

Cette Maison is a hard film to categorize, as it is neither a documentary nor a full-on narrative film. It is probably best to call Cette Maison an experimental fantasy film driven by the repetitive narration of the fictionalized depiction of the murdered Tessa. In some ways, Cette Maison reminds me of 2018’s My Name Is Myeisha, but it’s not quite as enthralling as that film.

Trailer for Cette Maison – TIFF Canada’s Top Ten 2022

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Sean Patrick Kelly

Sean Patrick Kelly is a Toronto-based freelance film critic and blogger with a Bachelor of Arts in Cinema and Media Studies from York University. Since founding his site in 2004, Sean has shared his passion for cinema through insightful reviews and commentary. His work has also been featured in prominent outlets, including Toronto Film Scene, HuffPost Canada, Screen Anarchy, ScreenRant, and Rue Morgue Magazine.