Polytechnique

The film is based on the tragic 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal, Quebec. It chronicles the horrific events where a gunman entered the engineering school, resulting in the deaths of fourteen female students. The movie portrays the massacre as experienced by two students caught in the violence.

The cast features Maxim Gaudette in the terrifying role of the gunman, alongside Karine Vanasse and Sébastien Huberdeau as the students. Gaudette delivers a chilling performance that captures the real-life perpetrator's disturbing misogyny. The film's acting was widely praised for its emotional weight and realism.

Polytechnique is a French-Canadian film spoken primarily in French, with some English elements. Because it is set in Montreal, it accurately reflects the bilingual nature of the region. The film captures the cultural and linguistic dynamics of Quebec during the late 1980s.

Director Denis Villeneuve shot the film in a highly restrained, stark black-and-white format to handle the tragedy respectfully and avoid sensationalism. It focuses heavily on the psychological terror of the event and the pervasive misogyny that motivated the killer. The narrative honors the victims without glorifying the violence.