Toronto critics name Monsieur Lazhar best Canadian film

Monsieur Lazhar, a film about an insightful teacher who helps a classroom of Quebec children through a devastating loss, has won the Toronto Film Critics Association's Rogers best Canadian film award.

CBC News Posted: Jan 11, 2012 8:22 AM EST | Last Updated: January 11, 2012

An Algerian teacher faces a middle-school class troubled over the death of their teacher in Monsieur Lazhar. (Ronald Plante/Sundance Film Festival)

Monsieur Lazhar, a film about an insightful teacher who helps a classroom of Quebec children through a devastating loss, has won the Toronto Film Critics Associations Rogers best Canadian film award.

Quebec filmmaker Philippe Falardeau was presented with the award Tuesday evening in Toronto at the TFCAs annual gala.

His film, Canadasentry for best foreign language filmOscar, was included in critics best-of-2011lists across the country and has a slot at the Sundance Film Festival.

Vancouver critics pick A Dangerous Method

At its annual awards on Monday, the Vancouver Film Critics Circle picked The Artist as 2011's best film andJean-Marc Vallees Cafde Flore as best Canadian film.

David Cronenberg was named best Canadian director for A Dangerous Method, his film about the rivalry between Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Star Viggo Mortensen, who portrays Freud,won best supporting actor in a Canadian film.

The best B.C. film honour went to Joel Heaths documentary People of a Feather. Other winners include:

Best director: Terrence Malick, Tree of Life.
Best actress: Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene.
Best actor: Michael Fassbender, Shame.
Best actress in a Canadian film: Michelle Williams, Take This Waltz.
Best actor in a Canadian film: Peter Stormare, Small Town Murder Songs.
Best supporting actress: Jessica Chastain, Tree of Life.
Best supporting actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners.
Best documentary: Cave of Forgotten Dreams.

"When I finished the film, I thought it would go under the radar. It didn't," he told CBC News.

"I'm just sad my producers are not here to share the award with me tonight cause it's overwhelming and you want to embrace the people with whom you did the film. And I'm very excited about the fact that it's coming out in Toronto in two weeks."

Monsieur Lazhar competed for the $15,000 Canadian film award with Caf de Flore, directed by Jean-Marc Valle, and A Dangerous Method, directed by David Cronenberg.

TFCA President Brian D. Johnson remarked on the quality of Montreal film-making, afterDenis Villeneuve wonthe award last year for Incendies.

"Theres a luminous warmth to this film that rings utterly true," he said in a press statement. "Philippe Falardeau explores dire issues with an understated touch and huge heart."

Two other cash awards were presented by noted filmmakers Don McKellar and Bruce MacDonald.

Don McKellar presented the $5,000 2011 Deluxe Student Film Award to York University student Janice Lee for her short film faraway.

Bruce McDonald presented the Jay Scott Prize to Toronto filmmaker Ingrid Veninger (i am a good person/i am a bad person). The prize, named for a late Toronto critic who enjoyed discovering emerging talent,carries a $5,000 cash award.

The TFCA hadpreviously named its choicesfor best picture (Tree of Life), as well as best actor and actress (Michael Shannon in Take Shelter and Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn).

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