Les 7 jours du talion
Encyclopedia
7 Days is a Canadian thriller film directed by Daniel Grou
and starring Claude Legault
. The screenplay was written by Patrick Senécal and based on his novel Les sept jours du talion.
) is destroyed when his daughter Jasmine (Rose-Marie Coallier) is raped and murdered in a park. Upon learning that the police apprehended the prime suspect, laborer Anthony Lemaire (Martin Dubreuil), Hamel plans to take revenge. He abducts Lemaire while he is being brought to his trial by drugging the officer driving the transport vehicle and brings him to secluded cabin. Using a remote-controlled computer to conceal his location, Hamel calls the police to inform them that he plans to murder Lemaire in seven days, the seventh day being Jasmine's birthday. After killing him, Hamel will give himself up to the police.
Police detective Mercure (Rémy Girard
) leads the investigation to discover Hamel's whereabouts. Mercure himself suffered a personal tragedy when his wife was killed during a grocery store robbery. Though Mercure acknowledges that the imprisonment of his wife's killer hasn't made his life more bearable, he becomes determined to stop Hamel before he commits murder.
Over the course of the seven days, Hamel brutally tortures Lemaire. Initially frightened and in incredible pain, Lemaire starts to accept his fate and mocks Hamel for not enjoying himself as he inflicts painful injuries on him. Lemaire eventually admits to raping and murdering Jasmine, along with three other girls. Hamel proceeds contacts a news station to tell inform the families of Lemaire's victims about his captive's confession. When the mother of one of Lemaire's victims disapproves of his actions, Hamel kidnaps her and forces her to see Lemaire.
By the seventh day, the police locate Hamel's cabin. Hamel gives himself up and lets Lemaire live. As the police lead him away, a reporter asks him if he still believes vengeance is right. Hamel responds with a "No." However, when asked if he regrets what he's done, he gives the same answer.
, as World Premiere.
Upon release, critics reacted favorably towards the film. On rotten Tomatoes, the film has a tomatometer rating of 83%, based on 12 reviews.
Daniel Grou
Daniel Grou, frequently credited as Podz, is a Canadian film and television director. His credits include the films 10½ and Les 7 jours du Talion, as well as episodes of the television series Drop the Beat, The Hunger, Big Wolf on Campus, Vampire High, Les Bougon, Minuit, le soir and Au nom de la...
and starring Claude Legault
Claude Legault
-Biography:Legault was a star of the Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation and has since appeared regularly on television, stage and film. He is currently part of the cast of the T.V. series 450 chemin du Golf and Annie et ses Hommes and he was part of Le retour...
. The screenplay was written by Patrick Senécal and based on his novel Les sept jours du talion.
Plot
The ordinary life of surgeon Bruno Hamel (Claude LegaultClaude Legault
-Biography:Legault was a star of the Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation and has since appeared regularly on television, stage and film. He is currently part of the cast of the T.V. series 450 chemin du Golf and Annie et ses Hommes and he was part of Le retour...
) is destroyed when his daughter Jasmine (Rose-Marie Coallier) is raped and murdered in a park. Upon learning that the police apprehended the prime suspect, laborer Anthony Lemaire (Martin Dubreuil), Hamel plans to take revenge. He abducts Lemaire while he is being brought to his trial by drugging the officer driving the transport vehicle and brings him to secluded cabin. Using a remote-controlled computer to conceal his location, Hamel calls the police to inform them that he plans to murder Lemaire in seven days, the seventh day being Jasmine's birthday. After killing him, Hamel will give himself up to the police.
Police detective Mercure (Rémy Girard
Rémy Girard
Rémy Girard is a Canadian actor and former television host from Quebec.-Acting career:He played the role of Rémy, the main character, who is dying of terminal cancer, in the Canadian film Les Invasions barbares by director Denys Arcand. This film was awarded the 2003 Academy Award for best...
) leads the investigation to discover Hamel's whereabouts. Mercure himself suffered a personal tragedy when his wife was killed during a grocery store robbery. Though Mercure acknowledges that the imprisonment of his wife's killer hasn't made his life more bearable, he becomes determined to stop Hamel before he commits murder.
Over the course of the seven days, Hamel brutally tortures Lemaire. Initially frightened and in incredible pain, Lemaire starts to accept his fate and mocks Hamel for not enjoying himself as he inflicts painful injuries on him. Lemaire eventually admits to raping and murdering Jasmine, along with three other girls. Hamel proceeds contacts a news station to tell inform the families of Lemaire's victims about his captive's confession. When the mother of one of Lemaire's victims disapproves of his actions, Hamel kidnaps her and forces her to see Lemaire.
By the seventh day, the police locate Hamel's cabin. Hamel gives himself up and lets Lemaire live. As the police lead him away, a reporter asks him if he still believes vengeance is right. Hamel responds with a "No." However, when asked if he regrets what he's done, he gives the same answer.
Cast
- Claude LegaultClaude Legault-Biography:Legault was a star of the Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation and has since appeared regularly on television, stage and film. He is currently part of the cast of the T.V. series 450 chemin du Golf and Annie et ses Hommes and he was part of Le retour...
as Bruno Hamel - Rémy GirardRémy GirardRémy Girard is a Canadian actor and former television host from Quebec.-Acting career:He played the role of Rémy, the main character, who is dying of terminal cancer, in the Canadian film Les Invasions barbares by director Denys Arcand. This film was awarded the 2003 Academy Award for best...
as Hervé Mercure - Martin Dubreuil as Anthony Lemaire
- Fanny MalletteFanny Mallette-Biography:She was nominated for a Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in Continental, un film sans fusil. She has twice been nominated for a Jutra Award for Best Actress in Les muses orphelines and Une jeune fille à la fenêtre...
as Sylvie Bérubé - Rose-Marie Coallier as Jasmine Hamel
- Alexandre Goyette as Michel Boisevert
- Dominique Quesnel as Maryse Pleau
- Pascale Delhaes as Diane Masson
- Pascal Contamine as Gaétan Morin
- Daniel Desputeau as Gilles, Médecin
Release and reception
The film premiered on 22 January 2010 at Sundance Film FestivalSundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
, as World Premiere.
Upon release, critics reacted favorably towards the film. On rotten Tomatoes, the film has a tomatometer rating of 83%, based on 12 reviews.