Corbo

Corbo
Film poster
Directed byMathieu Denis
Written byMathieu Denis
Produced byFélize Frappier
Starring
CinematographySteve Asselin
Edited byNicolas Roy
Music byOlivier Alary
Production
company
Max Films Média
Distributed byLes Films Christal / Les Films Séville
Release date
  • 17 April 2015 (2015-04-17) (Canada)
Running time
119 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageFrench
BudgetC$4.1 million

Corbo is a 2014 Canadian drama film written and directed by Mathieu Denis. Based on the life of Jean Corbo, the film follows his involvement with the Front de libération du Québec. It premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival and was included in Canada’s Top Ten in 2014. The film received several nominations at the Canadian Screen Awards and the Jutra Awards.

Synopsis

Based on a true story, the film follows Giovanni (Jean) Corbo, the teenage son of Italian immigrant Nicola Corbo and his French-Canadian wife Mignonne, who becomes involved with the Front de libération du Québec after a chance meeting with two young activists, Julie and François.

Cast

The cast includes:

Production

The film was written and directed by Mathieu Denis and produced by Félize Frappier. Filming took place in Montreal and the surrounding area from 3 September to mid-October 2013. The film had an approximate budget of C$4.1 million.

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, where it was shown in the Discovery section. It was released in theatres on 17 April 2015.

Reception

Awards and nominations

The film received three Canadian Screen Award nominations at the 4th Canadian Screen Awards in 2016: Best Motion Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Tony Nardi, and Best Costume Design for Judy Jonker. It also received ten Jutra Award nominations at the 18th Jutra Awards, and was shortlisted for the Prix collégial du cinéma québécois in 2016.

Critical response

The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the film had a “slightly airless quality”, and that the “fervor” needed to explain Corbo’s move from distributing FLQ newspapers to involvement in the group’s violent actions was “largely undetectable”. The review called Steve Asselin’s cinematography “a standout”. The Film Stage called the film “beautifully shot” and “brilliantly acted”, and wrote that its gradual pace increased the story’s “emotionality and tragedy”.

Festival screenings

In 2014, the film was screened at the Atlantic Film Festival, the Vancouver International Film Festival, the International Film Festival of India in Goa, and the Windsor International Film Festival, and was included in Canada’s Top Ten. In 2015, it screened in the Generation section of the Berlin International Film Festival.

References

  1. 1 2 van Hoeij, Boyd (14 September 2014). "'Corbo': Toronto Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Corbo" (PDF). Azimut Films. March 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Corbo – Film de Mathieu Denis". Films du Québec (in French). 8 April 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  4. ↑ "Mathieu Denis' Corbo heads to Berlin". Playback. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "Room, Schitt’s Creek lead 2016 Canadian Screen Award nominations". National Post, 20 January 2016.
  6. ↑ "«La passion d'Augustine» et «Corbo» nommes 10 fois aux Jutra". Canadian Press, 25 January 2016.
  7. ↑ David Rémillard, "Chorus remporte le Prix collégial du cinéma québécois". Le Soleil, 19 March 2016.
  8. ↑ Mobarak, Jared (5 September 2014). "TIFF Review: Corbo". The Film Stage. Retrieved 1 May 2026.