Simon Laoi and Maxim Giroix | Norborg: Beyond the news item

Mark-Andre Luzier
Press

It would surprise us to see both of you in such a film project NorborgOn what paper, does it seem to be far removed from your respective universes?

Maxim Giroix: Yes [rires] !

Simon Laoi: It’s an evolution, a kind of coming out. We all love cinema. It’s true that we usually offer a little advanced film, but we also like quality American film and feature films.

MG: Gus van Sant has always been a role model for me. He can go one way and the other without extreme fear. Good Will Hunting Really touched people, and then he made movies like that Gerry Where The last days, These are the complete opposite. He does well in every work he does without losing his identity. I understand that people can find our presence Norborg, But it amazes me that filmmakers always want to produce the same film, rather than those inspired by their own lives. Personally I do not see the movie like that.

The story is about the rise of Vincent Lacroix (Franకోois Arnaud), who caused the biggest financial scandal in Quebec history, but the lesser known character, Eric Asselin (Vincent-Guiloum Otis), is a former Securities and Exchange Commission researcher. Who will be the right shoulder of the cheater. Where did the idea to make a film on this case come from? Norborg ?

SL: I came up with this idea a long time ago, when a distributor asked me if I had some commercial potential in mind. But at that time it did not materialize. People think that Norborg Commissioned film, but no. This is something I put forward, which Réal Chabot is interested in [le producteur] And Maxim came next. I believe in what is happening Norborg However, since all my stories are anchored in the Quebec Society, it incorporates themes I have approached in other films. The Norborg affair is much more than a regular news article. It has an amazing resonance and makes a deep impression. The moral aspect of this story, the simple greed, the people jumping over the fence without being punished, are all fascinating. The same thing happened to Eric Asselin, a civil servant who initially led a very orderly life.

MG: There is also the fact that Quebeckers have never seen fraud of this magnitude and many of us have told ourselves that these two guys could easily be victims. We saw it in America but, no one expected anything like that to happen here.

Simon, so far you have brought yourself to the screen, sometimes even in co-direction, all the screenplays you have written. Why call another filmmaker Norborg ?

SL: I thought for a while that I could direct this film myself, but as the project progressed I thought it would be interesting to add another perspective by newcomers by providing its expertise and knowledge. . I thought Maxim could take it all to another level. I called him when the script was complete, meaning he had been involved for five or six years.

MG: For my part, in a project I have not started, it is great to work with a very precise scenario in terms of direction. The directing challenge is to bring to the screen a very passionate, very complex story with a relatively short shooting schedule. This is an American style script, we have to build within the parameters of Quebec cinema.

We all remember this story and pictures of Vincent Lacroix leaving the court miserably after his indictment, but the fact is that he was released three years later and his accomplice Eric Asselin was never convicted. Do those who are unaware of the financial world watching your movie understand that today they have no better protection against this kind of fraud? Or are they?

MG: Same thing. We want viewers to ask similar questions. Because you still have to be very careful.

SL: Especially since today, everything is dematerialized and the world of finance takes place in the virtual world. It becomes very abstract. Scammers no longer have to break into a home to steal money. Related facts Norborg It happened between 1998 and 2005. Since then, the number of scams has increased. We are now in cryptocurrency, high speculation and presenting new articles every day. Fraudsters will always find new ways to overcome cracks. We like to be vigilant and hold ourselves accountable without blindly handing over our personal financial affairs without supervision.

MG: Many Norborg victims believed that their money was kept in the place where the Kaise Depot at Placement was located and were not aware that the funds had been sold to Norborg, although it was very easy to find. Today, we invest in virtual organizations that do not speak directly to anyone.

SL: And the punishments do not always seem to be commensurate with the crime, although the injuries to the victims of the attack are very severe. There are people who have really lost everything.

Are you happy with your movie?

MG: Yes. Basically, I wanted to do this for the general public, which has never happened to me before. I want Quebeckers to watch this movie to remember that this kind of cheating is possible. We want to provide an effective film with a good script and I think it will work well. I’m proud of it and I even think this is the first time I’ve told you about one of my movies!

SL: I love imagery. Maxim – and Sarah Mishra in the photo – rarely see the slightly dirty Montreal spirit in our film.

Norborg Currently showing.