JOHN MAX, A PORTRAIT

Michel Lamothe

Subjects: Arts & Culture , Portraits

Directed by

Michel Lamothe

Languages

English, French

Produced by

Michel Lamothe

94 min, Documentary, Quebec, Canada, 2010

An intimate portrait looking into the life of the most interesting and singular Canadian photographer, John Max (1936-2011).

Synopsis
Born in Montreal, John Max (1936-2011) studied music at McGill University. After his first year, he abandoned the idea of becoming a musician and photography became his passion. Despite the scope and dissemination of his work in the sixties and seventies, John Max is a relatively unknown artist. A discreet witness, filmmaker and photographer Michel Lamothe offers an intimate portrait in which John Max shares his day to day life, spiritual quest and reflections on the meaning of life and freedom.

 

Credits
Script and Direction : Michel Lamothe
Direction of Photography : Michel Lamothe
Sound : Michel Lamothe

Editing : Louise Dugal

Sound Editing: Claude Beaugrand, Francine Poirier
Production : Michel Lamothe

 

Financial Partners

Conseil des Arts du Canada
Conseil des Arts et des lettres du Québec

En bas de ça, c'est pas encore fait

Press reviews

Dans un documentaire sensible, sobre mais sans complaisance, le cinéaste et photographe Michel Lamothe pose un regard d'une grande humanité sur John Max. LA PRESSE … a disturbing work that brings together, with a rare density and coherence, the qualities of a portrait, a story, and an essay. Ciel Variable A compelling documentary on the visionary Montréal photographer. The Gazette

Direction

Michel Lamothe

After graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering at Université Laval in Québec City, Michel Lamothe studied Communication Arts at Loyola College (Montreal). Since, he pursues a dual career in photography and film. Michel Lamothe has exhibited work in Canada and Europe and his films have been shown in several international festivals. In 2000 was published an artist monograph devoted to his photographic work entitled Même les cigales dormaient. About Michel Lamothe’s work, Philippe Dubois, author of l'Acte photographique (The Photographic Act) writes, « Michel Lamothe has the freedom of a filmmaker in photography as he has the freedom of a photographer in film. He inhabits a vital space and he breathes life into the images that exist between these two worlds. »     Filmography   John Max, A Portrait (2010 / 94 min) Plastic Dream (2007 / 3 min) Étude de nuages (2007 / 20 min) Qui hésite se perd (1990 / 54 min) 6237 Christophe-Colomb (1990 / 6 min) Face à la caméra (1984 / 10 min) Robert Frank à Dazibao (1983 / 60 min) Une bien belle ville (1975 / 20 min) (collectif) 286 Côte des anges sud (1974 / 17 min) (co-director Jeannine Gagné) Mascara et rouge à lèvres (1973 / 13 min) (co-director Jeannine Gagné) Sans faire d'histoire (1972 / 10 min) (co-director Jeannine Gagné)