Denise Filiatrault

Denise Filiatrault (born May 16, 1931) is a Canadian actress and director. She attained star status on TV in the 1960s, co-starring with Dominique Michel in the Radio-Canada television series Moi et l'autre (1967–71) and in many editions of Radio-Canada's annual New Year's special, Bye Bye. She had further success in Chez Denise (1978–1982), Le 101, avenue des Pins (1984–85) and Denise... aujourd'hui (1990–91). In addition to her television career, Filiatrault also performed in films and on stage, notably in works by Michel Tremblay. She was known to perform both comic and dramatic roles, such as Gilles Carle's The Death of a Lumberjack (La Mort d'un bûcheron) in 1973, André Brassard's film version of Tremblay's Once Upon a Time in the East (Il était une fois dans l'Est) in 1974, Denys Arcand's Gina in 1975, Claude Fournier's Far from You Sweetheart (Je suis loin de toi mignonne) in 1976, Fantastica in 1980 and Carle's The Plouffe Family (Les Plouffe) in 1981, playing the tormented Cécile. Following Les Plouffe, Filiatrault took a break from film, concentrating more in writing and directing for theatre and summer comedy. Filiatrault then decided to take the leap to directing cinema by adapting Tremblay's novel C't'à ton tour, Laura Cadieux into the 1998 film It's Your Turn, Laura Cadieux, presenting the world of overweight women yearning for love and affection. Filiatrault opted for a simple yet effective style that showcased the talents of the film's strong female ...

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Bittersweet Memories (2004)

1952, Québec - Alys Robi, vocalist at the top of her popularity and recognized worldwide, was interned in spite of herself, by her father. Medical authorities prescribe her the only cure for a possible cure: the lobotomy. Under the bright lights of the operating ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Denise Filiatrault
CAST:  Pascale Bussières  •  Michel Barrette  •  Serge Postigo  •  Denis Bernard

1952, Québec - Alys Robi, vocalist at the top of her popularity and recognized worldwide, was interned in spite of herself, by her father. Medical authorities prescribe her the only cure for a possible cure: the lobotomy. Under the bright lights of the operating ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Denise Filiatrault
CAST:  Pascale Bussières  •  Michel Barrette  •  Serge Postigo  •  Denis Bernard

Le crime d'Ovide Plouffe (1984)

Ovide Plouffe has married Rita. She still tries to attract other men even after their marriage. Unhappy Ovide feels for Marie - a young French woman he had met. But his catholic background and surrounding can't let him love another woman or divorce from his wife. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Denys Arcand
CAST:  Gabriel Arcand  •  Anne Létourneau  •  Jean Carmet  •  Pierre Curzi

Ovide Plouffe has married Rita. She still tries to attract other men even after their marriage. Unhappy Ovide feels for Marie - a young French woman he had met. But his catholic background and surrounding can't let him love another woman or divorce from his wife. ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Denys Arcand
CAST:  Gabriel Arcand  •  Anne Létourneau  •  Jean Carmet  •  Pierre Curzi

Laura Cadieux II (1999)

Laura Cadieux and her friends are taking a cruise on the St. Lawrence River to celebrate Laura's 50th birthday.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Denise Filiatrault
CAST:  Ginette Reno  •  Martin Drainville  •  Adèle Reinhardt  •  Denise Dubois

Laura Cadieux and her friends are taking a cruise on the St. Lawrence River to celebrate Laura's 50th birthday.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Denise Filiatrault
CAST:  Ginette Reno  •  Martin Drainville  •  Adèle Reinhardt  •  Denise Dubois

Alice's Odyssey (2002)

After reading a bedtime story to her daughter, Alice Tremblay leaves her daughter's room and enters her own fairytale. After battling a sexy big, bad wolf and saving Red Riding Hood, she encounters Prince Ludwig who helps Alice return to her world in exchange for ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Denise Filiatrault
CAST:  Sophie Lorain  •  Martin Drainville  •  Pierrette Robitaille  •  Marc Labrèche

After reading a bedtime story to her daughter, Alice Tremblay leaves her daughter's room and enters her own fairytale. After battling a sexy big, bad wolf and saving Red Riding Hood, she encounters Prince Ludwig who helps Alice return to her world in exchange for ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Denise Filiatrault
CAST:  Sophie Lorain  •  Martin Drainville  •  Pierrette Robitaille  •  Marc Labrèche

Gina (1975)

A beautiful stripper hires renowned criminals to exact revenge on those who raped her in her motel room.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Denys Arcand
CAST:  Céline Lomez  •  Claude Blanchard  •  Frédérique Collin  •  Serge Thériault

A beautiful stripper hires renowned criminals to exact revenge on those who raped her in her motel room.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Denys Arcand
CAST:  Céline Lomez  •  Claude Blanchard  •  Frédérique Collin  •  Serge Thériault

Laurence Anyways (2012)

OriginalRomanticMindlessCharming

The story of an impossible love between a woman named Fred and a transgender woman named Laurence who reveals her inner desire to become her true self.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Xavier Dolan
CAST:  Melvil Poupaud  •  Suzanne Clément  •  Nathalie Baye  •  Monia Chokri

The story of an impossible love between a woman named Fred and a transgender woman named Laurence who reveals her inner desire to become her true self.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Xavier Dolan
CAST:  Melvil Poupaud  •  Suzanne Clément  •  Nathalie Baye  •  Monia Chokri

Mado (1976)

Middle-aged businessman, Simon Léotard finds his future in jeopardy when his partner Julien commits suicide after having accumulated a mass of debts. Simon's unscrupulous business rival Lépidon offers to save him from bankruptcy by buying his company, at a discount ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Claude Sautet
CAST:  Michel Piccoli  •  Ottavia Piccolo  •  Jacques Dutronc  •  Julien Guiomar

Middle-aged businessman, Simon Léotard finds his future in jeopardy when his partner Julien commits suicide after having accumulated a mass of debts. Simon's unscrupulous business rival Lépidon offers to save him from bankruptcy by buying his company, at a discount ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Claude Sautet
CAST:  Michel Piccoli  •  Ottavia Piccolo  •  Jacques Dutronc  •  Julien Guiomar

Fantastica (1980)

In this Canadian made oddball mix of music and drama, an actress (Carole Laure) in a traveling musical revue is involved with the show's director until she meets and falls for an aging ecological activist. He too is drawn to her, and together they try to stop a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gilles Carle
CAST:  Carole Laure  •  Lewis Furey  •  Serge Reggiani  •  Denise Filiatrault

In this Canadian made oddball mix of music and drama, an actress (Carole Laure) in a traveling musical revue is involved with the show's director until she meets and falls for an aging ecological activist. He too is drawn to her, and together they try to stop a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gilles Carle
CAST:  Carole Laure  •  Lewis Furey  •  Serge Reggiani  •  Denise Filiatrault

The Death of a Lumberjack (1973)

This meditative French-Canadian film tells the story of a young woman's search for the father she has never known. Marie Chapdelaine (Carole Laure) grew up in a remote area of Quebec without ever knowing her father, a lumberjack. She moves to Montreal, settles in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gilles Carle
CAST:  Carole Laure  •  Willie Lamothe  •  Daniel Pilon  •  Pauline Julien

This meditative French-Canadian film tells the story of a young woman's search for the father she has never known. Marie Chapdelaine (Carole Laure) grew up in a remote area of Quebec without ever knowing her father, a lumberjack. She moves to Montreal, settles in ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gilles Carle
CAST:  Carole Laure  •  Willie Lamothe  •  Daniel Pilon  •  Pauline Julien

Once Upon a Time in the East (1974)

Two women and a transvestite gay man cross paths in this French Canadian drama. The transvestite is preparing for a drag-queen beauty pageant, and has decided to present himself as Cleopatra. Of the two women, one was just fired from her waitressing job and seeks ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  André Brassard
CAST:  Denise Filiatrault  •  Michelle Rossignol  •  Frédérique Collin  •  Sophie Clément

Two women and a transvestite gay man cross paths in this French Canadian drama. The transvestite is preparing for a drag-queen beauty pageant, and has decided to present himself as Cleopatra. Of the two women, one was just fired from her waitressing job and seeks ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  André Brassard
CAST:  Denise Filiatrault  •  Michelle Rossignol  •  Frédérique Collin  •  Sophie Clément

It's Your Turn, Laura (1998)

Large women with a zest for life gather weekly at a Montreal doctor's office to receive diet injections.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Denise Filiatrault
CAST:  Ginette Reno  •  Pierrette Robitaille  •  Denise Dubois  •  Samuel Landry

Large women with a zest for life gather weekly at a Montreal doctor's office to receive diet injections.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Denise Filiatrault
CAST:  Ginette Reno  •  Pierrette Robitaille  •  Denise Dubois  •  Samuel Landry

Bye, See You Monday (1979)

Lucie the Quebecker and Nicole the Frenchwoman with the "funny accent" are both twenty-six, single and share their Montreal apartment as they share their joys and sorrows. The first works in radio, the second in an airline company, and both have a married lover who ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Maurice Dugowson
CAST:  Miou-Miou  •  Carole Laure  •  Claude Brasseur  •  David Birney

Lucie the Quebecker and Nicole the Frenchwoman with the "funny accent" are both twenty-six, single and share their Montreal apartment as they share their joys and sorrows. The first works in radio, the second in an airline company, and both have a married lover who ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Maurice Dugowson
CAST:  Miou-Miou  •  Carole Laure  •  Claude Brasseur  •  David Birney

The Late Blossom (1977)

30-year-old Quebec City native Gisèle lives a quiet life as a secretary without happiness with her parents and siblings. One day, tired of being teased by her office mates, she decides to consult a marriage agency to find her soul mate.  (more)

DIRECTION:  André Brassard
CAST:  Rita Lafontaine  •  Denise Filiatrault  •  Huguette Oligny  •  Claude Gai

30-year-old Quebec City native Gisèle lives a quiet life as a secretary without happiness with her parents and siblings. One day, tired of being teased by her office mates, she decides to consult a marriage agency to find her soul mate.  (more)

DIRECTION:  André Brassard
CAST:  Rita Lafontaine  •  Denise Filiatrault  •  Huguette Oligny  •  Claude Gai

C'est le coeur qui meurt en dernier (2017)

At 47, Julien is an eternal misfit with no real job. But now that he has published an autobiography recounting his childhood memories, a complicated relationship with his mother and troubling family secrets, success is knocking on his door. Julien and his mother ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alexis Durand-Brault
CAST:  Gabriel Sabourin  •  Denise Filiatrault  •  Paul Doucet  •  Sophie Lorain

At 47, Julien is an eternal misfit with no real job. But now that he has published an autobiography recounting his childhood memories, a complicated relationship with his mother and troubling family secrets, success is knocking on his door. Julien and his mother ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Alexis Durand-Brault
CAST:  Gabriel Sabourin  •  Denise Filiatrault  •  Paul Doucet  •  Sophie Lorain

Compulsive Liar (2019)

Simon Aubert runs his entire life on lies. An executive at an aviation company, he lies about everything… Simon’s self-serving lies are so abundant that the universe (governed by a handful of Buddhist monks, it seems) decides to right a wrong by teaching him a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Émile Gaudreault
CAST:  Louis-José Houde  •  Antoine Bertrand  •  Catherine Chabot  •  Anne-Élisabeth Bossé

Simon Aubert runs his entire life on lies. An executive at an aviation company, he lies about everything… Simon’s self-serving lies are so abundant that the universe (governed by a handful of Buddhist monks, it seems) decides to right a wrong by teaching him a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Émile Gaudreault
CAST:  Louis-José Houde  •  Antoine Bertrand  •  Catherine Chabot  •  Anne-Élisabeth Bossé

The Plouffe Family (1981)

The lives of the average Quebecois Plouffe family during the final years of the depression and through World War II.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gilles Carle
CAST:  Gabriel Arcand  •  Pierre Curzi  •  Juliette Huot  •  Émile Genest

The lives of the average Quebecois Plouffe family during the final years of the depression and through World War II.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gilles Carle
CAST:  Gabriel Arcand  •  Pierre Curzi  •  Juliette Huot  •  Émile Genest

Effraction (1983)

During a robbery that goes wrong, Valentin Tralande kills his accomplices and bank customers.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Daniel Duval
CAST:  Marlène Jobert  •  Jacques Villeret  •  Bruno Cremer  •  Jean-Pierre Dravel

During a robbery that goes wrong, Valentin Tralande kills his accomplices and bank customers.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Daniel Duval
CAST:  Marlène Jobert  •  Jacques Villeret  •  Bruno Cremer  •  Jean-Pierre Dravel

The Razor's Edge (1985)

Samar, a child of the war, finds relief from the chaos around her through Egyptian movies she watches on television. Karim, an artist in retreat from life, remains in his apartment in war-torn West Beirut, confident that he is safe in his familiar neighborhood. An ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jocelyne Saab
CAST:  Jacques Weber  •  Hala Bassam  •  Juliet Berto  •  Youssef Housni

Samar, a child of the war, finds relief from the chaos around her through Egyptian movies she watches on television. Karim, an artist in retreat from life, remains in his apartment in war-torn West Beirut, confident that he is safe in his familiar neighborhood. An ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jocelyne Saab
CAST:  Jacques Weber  •  Hala Bassam  •  Juliet Berto  •  Youssef Housni

 (more)

DIRECTION:  Claude Fournier
CAST:  Gratien Gélinas  •  Michel Forget  •  Juliette Huot  •  Aurélien Recoing

 (more)

DIRECTION:  Claude Fournier
CAST:  Denis Bouchard  •  Michel Forget  •  Gratien Gélinas  •  Aurélien Recoing
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