Seventh Row

A place to think deeply about movies

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Ep. 103: Pascal Plante’s films: Fake Tattoos and Nadia Butterfly

On this episode of the podcast, we discuss the two features of Quebecois filmmaker Pascal Plante, Fake Tattoos and Nadia, Butterfly. Plante is an expert at depicting turning points in his characters’ lives and how they deal with major upheaval.

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A still from Fake Tattoos in split screen with a still from Nadia Butterfly, which are both covered on this Pascal Plante podcast episode. The number of the podcast, '103', is in the centre of the image.
Left: Katerine Savard in Nadia, Butterfly; Right: Anthony Therrien & Rose-Marie Perreault in Fake Tattoos. Both films are discussed on the podcast on Pascal Plante.

This episode features Editor-in-Chief Alex Heeney, Executive Editor Orla Smith, Associate Editor Brett Pardy, and Contributing Editor Lindsay Pugh.

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Click here to become a Seventh Row member and get access to this episode, as well as all other podcast episodes older than six months.

On this episode of the podcast on Fake Tatoos and Nadia, Butterfly

  • Subjective realities: The art of creative nonfiction film discussion (1:38)
  • Similar episodes (9:05)
  • Why did we pair these two films (9:49)
  • Fake Tattoos (12:10)
  • Avoiding the manic pixie dream girl trope (24:07)
  • Nadia, Butterfly (37:51)
  • A very Canadian musical interlude (58:28)
  • How the two films depict sex and sexuality (1:02:43)
  • What are the film’s character arcs? (1:07:48)
  • Why are relationship stories good for telling stories about transitions (1:14:57)
  • Conclusion (1:21:28)

Fake Tattoos (Faux Tatouages, 2017)

Set in Montreal, Theo (Anthony Therrien) and the one-year-older Meg (Rose-Marie Perreault) meet on his eighteenth birthday in line at a diner after they both attended the same concert. They talk, have sex, and then negotiate a romantic relationship with an expiration date. Theo is moving away in two weeks, so they decide to make the most of it, and slowly but surely, we learn why it’s so urgent for Theo to leave town.

Fake Tattoos is on VOD in Canada and France

Nadia, Butterfly (2020)

Set during the now fictional 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the film follows elite swimmer Nadia (2016 Olympic bronze medalist swimmer Katerine Savard) during her final competition as a professional athlete, and the aftermath of that loss. The film takes place over just a few days in Tokyo, begins with her final races, and then becomes about what it means for her to be ending this part of her life to go on to become a doctor, and in turn, leaving her best friend and fellow swimmer Marie-Pierre (Ariane Mainville) behind.

Nadia, Butterfly is on VOD in Canada

Episode notes

  • Pre-order our newest ebook, Subjective realities: The art of creative nonfiction film
  • Read Alex’s interview with Pascal Plante on Nadia, Butterfly
  • Read Orla’s interview with Nadia Butterfly cinematographer Stéphanie Anne Weber Biron
  • Visit Lindsay’s website, Woman in Revolt
  • Ep. 101: Magnus von Horn’s Films: The Here After and Sweat
  • Ep. 66: Francis Lee’s God’s Own Country and Ammonite (Members Only)