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LE DERNIER REPAS by Maryse Legagneur Screened at the 24th FICM

Katia Barragán

Le dernier repas (2024), Canadian filmmaker Maryse Legagneur’s he debut feature was screened as part of the programming for the 24th Morelia International Film Festival (FICM).

The story follows Reynold Célestin, a Haitian refugee living in Montreal who is suffering from terminal stomach cancer and seeks to reconcile with his daughter after twenty years of estrangement.

The film’s presentation was made possible through a partnership between FICM and the Curaçao International Film Festival (CIFF). The screening was attended by Daniela Michel, director and founder of the FICM; Michael Elias, director of the CIFF; and FICM programmer Chloë Roddick. Daniela Michel took the opportunity to acknowledge the CIFF’s efforts in supporting young filmmakers.

Michael Elias expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome, noting that this marked the fourth time they had attended the FICM to present a film that won at the CIFF. He also thanked Daniela Michel for her support, which dates back to before the festival’s inception and continued through its early stages. “Without her, our festival would not have achieved the acceptance, growth, and development it enjoys today,” he explained.

Elias took the opportunity to announce that Chloë Roddick will join the CIFF as its artistic director in April 2027. Finally, he invited the audience to enjoy a selection of four Caribbean short films, which are also included in the festival’s program.

Roddick talked about having the opportunity to feature Le dernier repas (The Last Meal) in the section she curates. She pointed out that the film is a co-production between Canada and Haiti, describing it as “a deeply moving story about hidden traumas, family bonds, and the power of cultural heritage and shared history.”

Like Elias, she invited the attendees to stay for the screening of the Caribbean short films and thanked the festival for the opportunity to present the film.