Synopsis
Teresa, an alluring Mexican woman, comes to Montreal in search of her husband
who had abandoned her in Mexico, cutting her life in two. In Montreal, she meets
Fenton, a young man who falls in love with her. Fenton convinces Teresa to let him
help her find her husband. In their pursuit, Teresa and Fenton criss-cross
Montreal, persuading a string of comical characters to reveal clues that will
finally lead them to the wayward husband. In the end, Teresa must decide whether to
reveal the painful secret that haunts her.
Director’s Statement
There’s a haunted woman at the heart of it, but to me this film is
ultimately about friendship. We may at times feel the absence of friendship more
sharply than the absence of romantic love. On the other hand, romantic love is what
makes our innocence a renewable resource, which is also a good thing.
Biographies
Writer - Director Federico Hidalgo
Born in Mendoza, Argentina, Federico Hidalgo has been living and working as a
performer, writer and director in theatre and film in Montreal for over 20 years.
He completed a Master’s degree in film production at Concordia University,
where he currently teaches. A Silent Love (2004), his first feature,
received 2 Genie nominations and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Imitation is his second feature.
Co-writer Paulina Robles
Paulina Robles studied communications at the Tecnológico de Monterrey, in
Mexico. Before moving to Canada, she worked as head of the Social Communications
Department in the municipality of Uruapan, Mexico. A Silent Love (2004),
her first feature, received 2 Genie nominations and premiered at the Sundance Film
Festival. Imitation is her second feature.
Actress Vanessa Bauche
Vanessa was first discovered as a teenage actress in Alex Cox’s El
Patrullero in 1992. Her role as Susana in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s
Academy Award Nominated Amores Perros (2000) brought Vanessa to light in
Latin America. Most recently, Vanessa has been nominated and received awards for
her roles in Digna (2004) and Al Otro Lado (2004), and The
Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2006). She also starred in Federico
Hidalgo's critically-acclaimed first film, A Silent Love (2004).
Actor Jesse Aaron Dwyre
Since graduating from the National Theatre School of Canada, Jesse Aaron Dwyre
has been performing both on stage and on screen, in roles that range from
Shakespearian lovers to modern day street punks. His theatrical appearances have
taken him across Canada, and in 2005, Jesse was nominated for Best Supporting Actor
at The Betty Mitchell Awards. His on screen appearances include; Romeo in Romeo
& Juliet for Bravo, NBC’s Apocalypse 10.5, Leigh Hunt in
Mary Shelly, and guest star spots on popular Canadian series’. Jesse
is also a keen drummer. As an ardent student of jazz and Brazilian rhythms, he has
backed numerous jazz groups in Montreal, has co-written / recorded two albums with
the rock group Stylewinder and is currently recording a new project with
multi-instrumentalist / arranger Jeremy Daw.
Actor Conrad Pla
Born in Madrid, Conrad Pla came to Canada at the age of three. After an injury
ended a successful 15-year career in kickboxing, acting became his life. Conrad
quickly earned recognition as an intense and versatile actor, working with such
accomplished veterans as Catherine Deneuve, Billy Bob Thornton, Angie Everhart, Sam
Rockwell, William H. Macy, and Bruce Willis. Conrad also appears regularly on the
hit TV series Regenesis (TMN), and as a guest star on Kojak (USA
Network) and Kevin Hill (UPN). More recently he has turned to directing
with his first feature film, Burning Mussolini in which he also stars.
Cast and Credits
Director: Federico Hidalgo
Screenwriters: Federico Hidalgo & Paulina Robles
Producer: Pascal Maeder
Director of Photography: Jean-Pierre Saint-Louis
Production Designer: Gabriel Tsampalieros
Costume Designer: Maory Gastelo
Editor: Tony Asimakopoulos
Composer: Robert Marcel Lepage
Sound Designer: Steve Gurman, M.P.S.E.
First Assistant Director: Michael Yaroshevsky
Line Producer: Victor Sandrasagra
Unit Production Manager: Jean-François Roesler
Casting & Continuity: Freya Maeve Mackenzie
Script Editor: Nick Carpenter
Produced with the financial participation of
- Société de développement des entreprises culturelles Québec
- Government of Québec Film and television tax credit - Administered by
SODEC
- The Canadian Film Tax Credit Program
Produced in association with
- The Movie Network
A Corus Entertainment Company
Developed with the assistance of
- Astral Media
- The Harold Greenberg Fund
- Conseil des arts et des lettres Québec
Teresa: Vanessa Bauche
Angel: Conrad Pla
Fenton: Jesse Aaron Dwyre
Margarita: Bernardita Aguayo
Olivia: Anabelle Segovia
Marilú: Margarita Herrera
Berta: Dalina Hernández
Sketching guy: Jonathan Shatzky
Fruit company owner: Ildeberto Da Luz
Accountant: Cory Bertrand
Germán: Manuel Aranguiz
Gonzalo: Joaquin Pérez
Ad-sac foreman: Guido Grasso
Ad-sac worker: Ana Pfeiffer
Ad-sac worker: Claudia Bernal
Flower warehouse supervisor: Garth Gilker
Flower warehouse worker: Lillian Rivera
Young man in park: Job Daniel Galaz
Young man in park: Yann Bernaquez
Policeman: Pascal Richard
Policewoman: Geneviève Leclerc
Verónica (Dance teacher): Perla Jasso
Amalia (Dance teacher): Marcela Pizarro
Renovator: Luc Bouffard
Landlord: Neil Kroetsch
Young man in apartment: Antoine Yared
Pregnant woman: Pascale Audrey
Guy giving flyers: Edward Paspaliaris
Editor ‘El Cometa’: Leo Argüello
Clarita: Luz Tercero
Anthony (Boy): Anthony Thérriault
Joseph (Boy): Joseph Thérriault
Mr. Rush: Glenn Roy
Mrs. Rush: Paula Jean Hixson
Mr. Dupont: Robert Higden
Mrs. Dupont: Paulina Abarca
Supermarket manager: Remy Zucchet
Atopia Executive Manager: Patricia Diaz
Unit Manager: Yannick Ammann
Location Manager: Patricia Durocher
Assistant Location Manager: Marie-Claude Belisle
Assistant Location Manager: Amélie Carrizey
Production Coordinator: Nathalie Cécyre
Production Driver: Stéphanie Michaud
Second Assistant Director: Gabriel Teller
Third Assistant Director: Évelyne Renaud
Additional Continuity: Éric Brulotte
First Assistant Camera: Eva Percewicz
Camera Trainee: Gabriel Homel
Gaffer: Clermont Lapointe
Best Boy Electrician: Amélie Douville
Electricians: Martin Lapointe, Samuel G. Bélanger, Jean-François Lepen,
Serge Raymond
Sound Mixer: Arnaud Derimay
Boom Operator: François Blouin
Art Director: Tereska Gesing
Assistant Art Director: Jaime Ruiz Rivas
Property Master: Ruth DeLaunière
Swing Gang: Christian Wolput, Rafael Bianchi
Make Up Artist: Kim-Chantal Frenette
Assistant Make Up Artists: Josée Pellerin, Sophie Lebeau, Fanny
Vachon
Hair Stylist: Gaetan Landry
Assistant Hair Stylist: Antoine Bergeron
Set Dresser: Jimmy Vidas
Assistant Set Dresser: Marie-Lynn Beaulieu
Production Assistants: Chantal Allard, Marie-Josée Trottier, Lawrence
Sabella, Manuel Roumer
Vanessa Bauche’s Driver: Jordan Pierce
English Dialogue Coach: Catherine Davis Desneiges
Spanish Dialogue Coach: Omar Cid
Production Doctor: Daniel Wagner M.D.
Assistant Editor: Melissa Godin
Online Editor: Jean-Marie Boissonneault
Colorist: Sylvie-Marie Fortier
Musicians
Drums: Justin Allard
Double Bass: Jean-Félix Mailloux
Electric Bass: Dominic Girard
Guitars: Yanik Cloutier
Cello: Vincent Bernard
Saxophone: Frank Lozano
Trumpet: David Carbonneau
Drum Loops: Nicolas Boryck
Music Recording & Mix: Robert Langlois
Music Editing: Nicolas Boryck
Dialogue Editor: Scott Donald
Sound Editor: David Gertsman M.P.S.E.
Assistant Editor: Francois Maurice
Foley Artist: Paul Hubert
Folley Assistant: Danielle Bérard
Foley/ADR Recordist: Éric “Med” Lagacé
Re-Recording Mixer: Jean Philippe Espantoso
Production Accountant: Hope Norman
Production Lawyers: André Veronneau, Claire Kusy
Camera Equipment: Département Caméra
Electrical and Grip Equipment: Cinepool, Productions Astuce
Inc.
Sound Recording Equipment: 93 Productions
Interim Financing: Caisses Desjardins
Production Insurance: Globalex Gestion de Risques, Chubb
Canada
Legal: Zénaïde Lussier, Avocate
Production Laboratory: Vision Globale, Montréal
Music Recording & Mix Studio: Studio 270
Audio Post Production & Mix Studio: Premium Sound Inc.
Online Edit: Digital Cut Post-Production
Video Finishing: In Extenso
35mm Blow Up: Vision Globale, Montréal