Night Zoo
Night Zoo is a 1987 Canadian film. It is directed and written by Jean-Claude Lauzon. It made its debut at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival. The film was selected as the Canadian entry for the Academy Award for Best [Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film] at the 60th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.
It was also the most successful film in the history of the Academy of [Canadian Cinema and Television]'s film awards program up to that point, winning a record 13 Genie Awards in every single category where it was nominated. The film garnered 14 nominations overall; the film's only nomination that failed to translate into a win was Gilles Maheu's nod for Best Actor, as he lost to the film's other Best Actor nominee, Roger Lebel.
Plot
Marcel is released from prison after completing a two year sentence for narcotics crime, hoping to reconcile with his dying father, Albert, who seems to believe his son has been away on a vacation. His former girlfriend Julie is now working in a sex club peep show. When he returns home, he is soon visited by a pair of dishonest police detectives who demand $200,000 in cash that they believe he still possesses from his earlier activity. One of the detectives, George is a homosexual steeped in sadism, who frequently uses violence to attempt to break him. Amidst the threats he navigates, Marcel and Albert repair their relationship, culminating in an after hours break-in at a local zoo.Reception
Box office
The film grossed $1 million in Quebec within three months of its release.Awards
The film won the most Genie Awards in history, with thirteen awards. Gilles Maheu and Roger Lebel were both nominated for Canadian [Screen Award for Best Actor|best actor].In 1987, the film won the Grand Prix for Best Film at Film Fest Gent.