Mario (1984 film)

Mario is a 1984 Quebec drama film, set in the Magdalen Islands, directed by Jean Beaudin and produced by the National Film Board of Canada.

Plot
Mario (Petermann) is a 10-year-old autistic boy who is mute and hard of hearing. He has an 18-year-old brother named Simon (Reddy), whom he admires greatly. One day, Simon becomes involved with a woman and, as a result, their relationship becomes strained. Mario finds himself without his brother and his parents who are always watching over their island during the tourist season.

Cast

 * Xavier Petermann as Mario
 * Francis Reddy as Simon
 * Nathalie Chalifour as Helene
 * Jacques Godin as father
 * Muriel Dutil as mother
 * Claire Pimparé as social worker
 * Marcel Sabourin as therapist
 * Jonathan Painchaud as Denis

Production
The film, based on Claude Jasmin's La Sablière, went overbudget.

Recognition

 * 1985 Genie Award for Best Achievement in Cinematography – Won (Pierre Mignot)
 * 1985 Genie Award for Best Achievement in Overall Sound – Won (Bruce Nyznik, Richard Besse, Hans Peter Strobl)
 * 1985 Genie Award for Best Achievement in Music – Original Score – Won (François Dompierre)
 * 1985 Genie Award for Best Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design – Nominated (Denis Boucher)
 * 1985 Genie Award for Best Achievement in Sound Editing – Nominated (David Evans, Wayne Griffin)
 * 1985 Genie Award for Best Motion Picture – Nominated (Jean Beaudin, Hélène Verrier)
 * 1985 Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Nominated (Xavier Petermann)