Next Floor is a 2008 Canadian dark comedy short film directed by Denis Villeneuve.[1] The film, largely wordless, depicts a group of eleven people endlessly gorging themselves on raw meats at a banquet.[1]
Synopsis
During an opulent and luxurious banquet, attended by servers and valets, eleven pampered guests participate in what appears to be ritualistic gastronomic carnage.
Diners • Simone Chevalot, Ken Fernandez, Ariel Ifergan, Sergiy Marchenko, Deepak Massand, Gaétan Nadeau, Charles Papasoff, Daniel Rousse, Helga Schmitz, Dennis St-John, Valérie Wiseman
Production background
The film was conceived by producer Phoebe Greenberg and directed by Denis Villeneuve during a break from production of his feature film Polytechnique.[2]
For Indiewire, journalist Zach Hollwedel theorized that the banquet attendees were in hell, and being forced to atone for their gluttonous lifestyles when they were alive, or that the film was a metaphorical comment on the voracious and destructive nature of human consumerism.[1]
Accolades
At Cannes, the film received the Canal+ prize for the best short film in its program.[4]
^" Egoyan movie wins prize at Cannes for spiritual values; Another Canadian film wins award for short movie". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, May 26, 2008.
^"Montrealer Denis Villeneuve takes new short to Cannes film fest". Montreal Gazette, April 26, 2008.
^"Short film winner conceived by Ottawan; Gluttony-themed Next Floor wins top prize for producer Greenberg, celebrated director Villeneuve". Ottawa Citizen, May 25, 2008.
^"Slumdog takes the people's prize; LeBron James documentary tapped as runner-up". Toronto Star, September 14, 2008.
^"Quebec movie scores three major Genies; Pilon's Ce qu'il faut pour vivre Gross's Passchendaele also big winner". Montreal Gazette, April 5, 2009.
^"Two films share spotlight; The Jutras". Montreal Gazette, March 30, 2009.
1 These two films were given honorable mentions rather than officially winning the award, but are included here as no other winner was named above them.
