Lilies

As a story of love, sacrifice, and redemption, the Canadian film Lilies (1996) is a poignant masterpiece that effortlessly blends elements of drama, fantasy, and memory play. Directed by John Greyson and co-written by Michel Marc Bouchard, the movie revolves around a group of former prisoners who attend a play staged by one of their own, who has become a successful writer. Set in the early 1950s, in a small Quebecois town, the play reenacts a tragic love story that took place 40 years ago between two young men, Simon (Ian D. Clark) and Vallier (Marcel Sabourin), who were childhood friends and lovers.

The movie opens with the arrival of Bishop Bilodeau (Aubert Pallascio), the aging patriarch of the town, who is also Simon's former adversary and jailer. Bilodeau comes to the prison to offer Simon a chance at redemption, telling him that his old friend and lover Vallier is dying and wants to see him. Simon agrees to be transported to the church where Vallier is lying in a coma, but only if he can play the lead role in the play that Vallier wrote in his youth. Bilodeau, who is haunted by a deep sense of guilt and remorse, agrees to this condition and orchestrates the play to be performed in the church, where he can witness it and seek absolution.

The play becomes a powerful vehicle of reminiscence and catharsis for the prisoners, who act out the roles of the younger Simon, Vallier, and Bilodeau, as well as other characters from their past. The narrative unfolds in a nonlinear and dreamlike manner, with the boundaries between the play and reality, memory and fantasy, blurring and merging. The past is shown in flashbacks and fragments, as Simon relives the traumatic events that led to his imprisonment and Vallier's exile. We see how their love was thwarted by the intolerance and homophobia of the community, as well as by Simon's own violent jealousy and paranoid delusions. The play-within-the-play serves as a metaphor for the prisoners' own struggles with guilt, regret, and the need for forgiveness.

The acting in Lilies is superb, with all the actors delivering nuanced and empathetic performances. Ian D. Clark is especially memorable as the elder Simon, whose physical deterioration mirrors his emotional anguish and longing. Marcel Sabourin brings a quiet dignity and compassion to Vallier, whose fate is both sad and heroic. Aubert Pallascio is chillingly effective as the rigid and conflicted Bishop, whose own repressed desires and secrets emerge through his participation in the play. The supporting cast is also excellent, with the prisoners playing multiple roles with grace and humor.

Aside from its impressive acting and directing, Lilies is notable for its rich and complex themes. The movie explores the nature of memory and nostalgia, and how they shape our present identity and relationships. It also examines the role of art and performance in transforming pain and injustice into healing and affirmation. The religious motifs of sin, redemption, and salvation are woven throughout the story, highlighting the paradoxes of faith and the human quest for transcendence.

At its core, Lilies is a love story that transcends gender and time. It portrays the bond between two men as natural and profound, and the obstacles that society puts in their way as arbitrary and cruel. The film's power lies in its ability to evoke both the depth of their love and the tragedy of their separation, while leaving room for hope and compassion. Lilies is a movie that will appeal to anyone who appreciates powerful storytelling, exquisite cinematography, and nuanced character development.