THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS (LES INVASIONS BARBARES) Special Screenings

Denys Arcand is one of Canada’s most celebrated filmmakers, and the ferociously witty and achingly sad THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS revisits his 1986 film THE DECLINE OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE. This time, the Declins are in their 20s and doing what estranged family members do – struggling to make sense of one another.

The scandalous behavior of part-time patriarch and full-time womanizer Remy has been tempered by the news that he is terminally ill. His ex-wife Louise summons his son, successful financier Sebastien, to his bedside. Although father and son can barely tolerate each other, Sebastien soon realizes the seriousness of the situation. Exerting his influence, he’s able to improve his father’s hospital stay and rally friends and family to his bedside.

THE BARBARIAN INVASIONS is a social satire (both Canada and the United States are skewered here) and a richly humorous ensemble comedy, winning awards at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival where it premiered, and most recently receiving the Audience Award at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival. Canada’s official submission for the Best Foreign Language Academy Award®.