A Cultural Autumn with Karine Vanasse

On September 8, Québec audiences were glued to their television screens for the finale of Radio-Canada’s Vengeance, the French adaptation of Revenge, to find out what would become of Karine Vanasse’s character. Last April, the actress who plays Margaux LeMarchal, the powerful and ultra-rich heiress of a French media mogul, found out that there would not be a fifth season of the popular Mike Kelley show, whose ratings have exceeded 10 million viewers on ABC. “At first, I was only supposed to be in eight episodes of season 3. In the end, I shot over 40 episodes,” Karine states.

Although she is disappointed that Vengeance was not renewed, she is happy to have some free time to pursue other interests. “The last season took nearly nine months to film,” explains the actress. “Since Vengeance has been cancelled, I can return to Québec and be part of a new television series, Luc Dionne’s Blue Moon.” She’ll also be present for the premiere of the movie she co-produced, Paul à Québec.

Out and about in Montréal

“It feels great to be back in Montréal,” she states. “I want to find out everything that’s been happening on the cultural front. One of my favourite hangouts is Centre Phi, near my home in the Old Port. This is where we shot Guy Maddin’s The Forbidden Room, which showed at the Sundance Film Festival in January. I really enjoyed Centre Phi’s Sensory Stories exhibit, an immersive virtual reality experience that closes tomorrow. I truly believe that the future of cinematography is virtual reality helmets.”

Karine Vanasse is also an avid fan of contemporary art. “Last April, when I was the spokesperson for Papier 15, an event dedicated exclusively to the promotion of art on paper to promoting artwork on paper, I discovered several talented contemporary artists. I just love Sara A. Tremblay, whose Études exhibit has been on display all summer at the Guido Molinari Foundation art gallery, as well as Sophie Jodoin, a regular at Battat Contemporary.”

 “Without a doubt, one of this fall’s must-see exhibits is Patrick Bernatchez’s Les temps inachevés. His work will be on display at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal (MAC) from October 17 to January 16,” she adds. The exhibit will include drawings, photographs, films, sound creations and installations that are part of larger conceptual projects. Coproduced by MAC and the Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’art contemporain, most of the pieces have been taken from his other two major exhibits, Chrysalides and Lost in Time.

A musical autumn

Her work as an actress has also led her to make new musical discoveries, including Christian Prévost, a violinist who’s been playing with Montréal’s I Musici since 1985. “He played violin on the soundtracks for Séraphin : un homme et son péché (2002) and Sans elle (2006), two of my most pivotal movies,” Karine explains. In fact, she won the Jutra for Best Actress for her portrayal of Donalda in Séraphin. “I’m a big fan of his music.”

Several concerts will be given by the chamber orchestra directed by Jean-Marie Zeitouni in the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts’ Bourgie Hall as part of their 2015-2016 calendar, including L’idéal classique, with pianist Christian Blackshaw, Fêter Noël avec Bach on December 19 and 20, and Des ténèbres à la lumière on February 25 as part of the MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRES festival.

“I still don’t know where 2016 will take me. Over the next few months, I’ll be auditioning in Québec, France and the United States.” The bilingual actress boasts an international career that has resulted in numerous film opportunities. “If I’m in Montréal, I would love to go to the Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois, which will take place from February 18 to the 27.”