My Friend Max

{{Infobox film

| name = My Friend Max

| native_name = {{Infobox name module|fr|Mon amie Max}}

| image =

| caption =

| director = Michel Brault

| producer = Aimée Danis
Carole Ducharme
Alain Rocca

| writer = Guy Fournier
Jefferson Lewis

| starring = Geneviève Bujold
Marthe Keller
Johanne McKay

| music = François Dompierre

| cinematography = Sylvain Brault

| editing = Jacques Gagné

| studio = Les Productions Lazennec
Les Productions du Verseau
National Film Board of Canada

| released = {{Film date|1994|2|18|RVCQ}}

| runtime = 106 minutes

| country = Canada

| language = French

| budget =

}}

My Friend Max ({{langx|fr|Mon amie Max}}) is a 1994 Canadian drama film, written by Guy Fournier and Jefferson Lewis, and directed by Michel Brault.Charles-Henri Ramond, [https://www.filmsquebec.com/films/mon-amie-max-michel-brault/ "Mon amie Max – Film de Michel Brault"]. Films du Québec, February 3, 2009. The film premiered in February 1994 at the Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois.John Griffin, "Festival underscores health of Quebec cinema". Montreal Gazette, January 26, 1994.

The film was selected as the Canadian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 67th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.

Plot

The film is set in contemporary Quebec City, Quebec.Brendan Kelly, [https://variety.com/1994/film/reviews/mon-amie-max-1200435733/ "Mon Amie Max"]. Variety, February 20, 1994.

Catherine (Marthe Keller), a concert pianist, is surprised one night by the arrival of her childhood friend Max (Geneviève Bujold), whom she hasn't seen for 25 years. Catherine and Max were students together at the Music Conservatory in Quebec City, and were the most promising pianists. While still in her teens, the adventurous Max gets pregnant. She wants to keep the child, but her domineering mother forces her to give him up for adoption. The rebellious Max then leaves Quebec and the music world. Now, years later, she returns, obsessed with finding her son. With the help of Catherine, she locates the adoption records and social workers contact her son to ask if he wants to see her. He refuses, but she keeps trying until they are reunited.John Griffin, "Max caused award-winning writer some pain". Montreal Gazette, February 20, 1994.

Cast

Geneviève Bujold as Marie-Alexandrine Brabant
Marthe Keller as Catherine Mercier
Johanne McKay as Marie-Alexandrine (adolescente)
Marie Guillard as Catherine (adolescente)
Michel Rivard as Denis Lajeunesse
Rita Lafontaine as Madame Brabant
Véronique Le Flaguais as Mme Michaud
Jean-Louis Roux as Père Berube
Patrice Bissonnette as Michael Simard

Awards and nominations

At RVCQ, Bujold won the award for Best Performance, McKay won the award for Most Promising Actor, and Guy Fournier and Jefferson Lewis won the award for Best Screenplay."Low-budget drama wins Quebec prize". Edmonton Journal, February 14, 1994.

The film was selected as the Canadian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 67th Academy Awards,Dan Bennett, "Palm Springs Film Festival productive event". North County Times, January 20, 1995. but was not accepted as a nominee.

It received six Genie Award nominations at the 15th Genie Awards in 1994, for Best Picture, Best Actress (Bujold), Best Supporting Actor (Rivard), Best Supporting Actress (McKay), Best Cinematography (Sylvain Brault) and Best Editing (Jacques Gagné).John Griffin, "Exotica dominates Genie nominations". Montreal Gazette, October 20, 1994.