I saw this film at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival.
Saints-Martyrs-des-Damnés is the feature film directorial debut for Robin Aubert, who also wrote the screenplay. The film follows tabloid reporter Flavien Juste (played by François Chénier), who goes to a small Quebec town with the paper's photographer and his friend, Armand (Patrice Robitaille). Flavien and Armand are there to investigate the mysterious disappearances of some of the villagers over the years. Not long after arriving, Armand disappears himself, setting in motion a whole series of events as Flavien tries to find his friend.
The town is populated with all sorts of characters, from the mayor who runs the town with an iron grip, backed up by his two greaser thugs right out of the 50's; to the mechanic who wears a mask to hide his face; to the two creepy sisters that run the town hotel; to the woman who plays steel guitar to the cows in the fields; and the lingerie-clad waitress in the restaurant who's Downs-syndrome affected son may be one of the few Flavien can turn to.
The movie is very reminiscent of work by David Lynch, a la Twin Peaks, but Saints-Martyrs-des-Damnés is significantly clearer in its story and themes. At the heart of the film is the theme of identity, but to say too much more would give away the plot. The film has a nice look, being shot in hi-def. Aubert's shots make much of the small town look threatening and suitably creepy, even in broad daylight. There's probably a few too many startling cuts at the beginning of the film, but thankfully, they give way too a more restrained style for the remainder. I enjoyed the movie, especially the character of Flavien, as he struggles in his desperate search to penetrate the silence that pervades the tight-knit community.
