Next Floor

{{short description|2008 film by Denis Villeneuve}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Next Floor

| native_name =

| image = Next Floor.jpg

| caption = Film poster

| director = Denis Villeneuve

| producer = Phoebe Greenberg
Karen Murphy

| screenplay = Jacques Davidts

| story = Caroline Binet
Phoebe Greenberg

| starring = Jean Marchand
Matthieu Handfield
Sébastian René
Emmanuel Schwartz

| music = Warren Slim Williams

| cinematography = Nicolas Bolduc

| editing = Sophie Leblond

| studio =

| distributor =

| released = {{Film date|2008|05|15|Cannes}}

| runtime = 11 minutes

| country = Canada

| language = English

| budget =

}}

Next Floor is a 2008 Canadian dark comedy short film directed by Denis Villeneuve.[http://www.indiewire.com/2015/05/watch-denis-villeneuves-perplexing-2008-short-film-next-floor-263383/ "Watch: Denis Villeneuve’s Perplexing 2008 Short Film ‘Next Floor’"]. Indiewire, May 27, 2015. The film, largely wordless, depicts a group of eleven people endlessly gorging themselves on raw meats at a banquet.

Synopsis

During an opulent and luxurious banquet, attended by servers and valets, eleven pampered guests participate in what appears to be ritualistic gastronomic carnage.

Characters and cast

  • Maître D • Jean Marchand
  • Servers • Mathieu Handfield, Sébastien René, Emmanuel Schwartz
  • Diners • Simone Chevalot, Ken Fernandez, Ariel Ifergan, Sergiy Marchenko, Deepak Massand, Gaétan Nadeau, Charles Papasoff, Daniel Rousse, Helga Schmitz, Dennis St-John, Valérie Wiseman

Production background

The film was conceived by producer Phoebe Greenberg and directed by Denis Villeneuve during a break from production of his feature film Polytechnique." Egoyan movie wins prize at Cannes for spiritual values; Another Canadian film wins award for short movie". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, May 26, 2008.

Release and reception

The film premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, as part of the Semaine de la critique program."Montrealer Denis Villeneuve takes new short to Cannes film fest". Montreal Gazette, April 26, 2008.

=Critical response=

For Indiewire, journalist Zach Hollwedel theorized that the banquet attendees were in hell, and being forced to atone for their gluttonous lifestyles when they were alive, or that the film was a metaphorical comment on the voracious and destructive nature of human consumerism.

=Accolades=

At Cannes, the film received the Canal+ prize for the best short film in its program."Short film winner conceived by Ottawan; Gluttony-themed Next Floor wins top prize for producer Greenberg, celebrated director Villeneuve". Ottawa Citizen, May 25, 2008.

The film received a special jury citation for the Toronto International Film Festival Award for Best Canadian Short Film at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival,"Slumdog takes the people's prize; LeBron James documentary tapped as runner-up". Toronto Star, September 14, 2008. and won the Genie Award for Best Live Action Short Drama at the 29th Genie Awards"Quebec movie scores three major Genies; Pilon's Ce qu'il faut pour vivre Gross's Passchendaele also big winner". Montreal Gazette, April 5, 2009. and the Prix Jutra for Best Short Film at the 11th Jutra Awards."Two films share spotlight; The Jutras". Montreal Gazette, March 30, 2009.

References

{{reflist|30em}}