Can a tragedy be transformed into a work of profound beauty on screen?

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Denis Villeneuve’s 2009 film Polytechnique re-enacts the 1989 Montreal Massacre, a harrowing event where a gunman targeted female engineering students. By filming in monochrome and avoiding sensationalism, the production team sought to navigate the sensitivity of the tragedy while sparking a necessary, difficult conversation about violence and misogyny.

Released in February 2009, Polytechnique depicts the events of December 6, 1989, when a gunman entered Polytechnique Montreal and murdered fourteen young women. Directed by Denis Villeneuve and produced with the involvement of actress Karine Vanasse, the film focuses on the experiences of survivors and witnesses. Vanasse, who had long desired to bring this story to the screen, conducted extensive research by speaking with the families of the victims to ensure the portrayal remained grounded in the reality of the tragedy.

The film’s aesthetic choices were central to its reception. Villeneuve opted to shoot in black and white to avoid the visceral presence of blood, a decision critics noted helped the film maintain a formalist, contemplative distance rather than wallowing in the violence. While some reviewers, such as Ray Bennett, criticized the film for failing to explore the killer's psychology, others praised its restraint. Peter Howell of the Toronto Star compared the film’s impact to Picasso’s Guernica, noting that it recreates the historical record without offering easy judgments or panaceas.

The release of the film sparked significant controversy across Canada, yet it achieved critical and financial success, winning nine Genie Awards, including Best Motion Picture. By August 2009, distribution rights had been sold to approximately 12 countries. Ultimately, the film serves as a meditation on the aftermath of horror, following characters like Valérie, who finds hope in pregnancy, and Jean-François, who struggles with the guilt of his survival. Through this lens, Villeneuve explores the tension between human decency and the savagery of the event, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of the tragedy's lasting impact.

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