Equal parts arthouse mystery and erotic melodrama, Saint-Narcisse sees queer iconoclast Bruce LaBruce pushing Greek myth through his 70s B-movie aesthetic to deliver this twisted tale of twincest, turmoil and treachery.
Saint-Narcisse gives new meaning to the phrase ‘go fuck yourself’… a delightfully blasphemous romp for a generation of kids reared on notions of 'me, me, me’.
Screened as part of NZIFF 2021
Saint-Narcisse 2020
A twisted brotherhood takes centre stage in Saint-Narcisse, the new film from queer iconoclast Bruce LaBruce. Set in 1972 Canada, Saint-Narcisse opens with a handsome young man named Dominic (played with gusto by newcomer Felix-Antoine Duval) who, after a comic sexual encounter, discovers the existence of his twin brother living in a monastery under the tyrannical control of a depraved priest. Dominic sets out to save and reunite with his brother, but they’re soon embroiled in a bizarre tapestry of sex, revenge and redemption.
Equal parts arthouse mystery and fervent melodrama, LaBruce (L.A. Zombie, Hustler White) pushes the myth of Narcissus through his own singular lens; energetic, raucous and joyously erotic. The film might be his most mainstream yet, balancing his 70s B-movie aesthetic with a depth and sophistication that only builds and twists on his ancient source material.
Saint-Narcisse asks an all-time question: What happens when our self-obsession turns outwards? LaBruce’s turgid tale of twincest, turmoil and treachery answers it in the only way he can: loudly, with vigour. — Sam Brooks
“LaBruce manages the difficult balancing act of retaining the anarchic... aesthetic of his previous features that his cult following expects while achieving a new level of finesse... [It’s] is a wild ride that’s enjoyable in all its B-movie glory – the production design that’s just a little too kitschy, the dialogue that’s just a tad too ripe – while also titillating the intellect.” — Boyd van Hoeij, Hollywood Reporter