Dark Canada's trip files: Montreal
Montreal is a party city, it seems no one goes home when the bars close but rather they keep the event going at after parties in people's homes or other clubs. It was hard to keep up with everyone there, we were always the first to leave, but we always had a great time.
I really underestimated the politics in Montreal. In making this film we walked into a war zone. There is a huge political divide there between two camps and I don't quite understand why. Everyone we met while there was fantastic, they all seemed to be contributing to the scene in unique ways. Yet, underneath this there seems to be a lot of tension. We've tried to keep this film unbiased and stay away from politics, but we really struggled to do so in Montreal. I don't know why the scene is so fractured there and part of me really doesn't want to know, I'd rather stay out of it all.
All this being said, we had an excellent time there. We toured old Montreal with our favorite bunny suit wearing local, Richard (he actually showed up to a party after walking several blocks in a bunny suit that included ears, a tail, a bow tie and g string). He took us to a fantastic polish resturant, which had some of the best vodka I've ever had and the food was amazing. We attended a goth picnic where true to the French stereotype we ate frech sticks with pate and cheese! We even had the chance to try Absynthe, the real stuff, this guy grew most of his own ingredients and made it himself. Absynthe, I might add, is what Van Gough is rumoured to have been drinking when he cut off his own ear. We didn't cut our ears off but I had to stop drinking it after half a glass because it was too strong. It tastes like black licorice because of all the annise that is in it.
We also attended a club night, the 7 year anniversary of the Dark Wave nights at Club Saphir. We saw a show by local psychobilly band The Gutter Demons and had a great time interviewing the djs.
All in all Montreal was great.
I really underestimated the politics in Montreal. In making this film we walked into a war zone. There is a huge political divide there between two camps and I don't quite understand why. Everyone we met while there was fantastic, they all seemed to be contributing to the scene in unique ways. Yet, underneath this there seems to be a lot of tension. We've tried to keep this film unbiased and stay away from politics, but we really struggled to do so in Montreal. I don't know why the scene is so fractured there and part of me really doesn't want to know, I'd rather stay out of it all.
All this being said, we had an excellent time there. We toured old Montreal with our favorite bunny suit wearing local, Richard (he actually showed up to a party after walking several blocks in a bunny suit that included ears, a tail, a bow tie and g string). He took us to a fantastic polish resturant, which had some of the best vodka I've ever had and the food was amazing. We attended a goth picnic where true to the French stereotype we ate frech sticks with pate and cheese! We even had the chance to try Absynthe, the real stuff, this guy grew most of his own ingredients and made it himself. Absynthe, I might add, is what Van Gough is rumoured to have been drinking when he cut off his own ear. We didn't cut our ears off but I had to stop drinking it after half a glass because it was too strong. It tastes like black licorice because of all the annise that is in it.
We also attended a club night, the 7 year anniversary of the Dark Wave nights at Club Saphir. We saw a show by local psychobilly band The Gutter Demons and had a great time interviewing the djs.
All in all Montreal was great.