The Sparkle

NEW DOCS

Young adult Kim Lalonde has been working the carnival circuit in Canada. Traveling throughout the country, he and his best friend Billy help set up, run, and break down the carnival at every stop. Sporting a kid-sized superhero cape, no job seems beyond Kim’s reach, from mending stuffed animal prizes to fixing broken rides. He goes about his work affably and with determination—he wants to do a good job while having fun. As the season progresses and Billy is fired, Kim’s thoughts turn to his own future and what comes next. This gorgeously shot and beautifully scored contemplative short catches Kim as he realizes it is time to leave the colorful glow of the carnival behind and forge a path to something more grounded. WFM

Director

Isabelle Grignon-Francke

Producer

Patrick Francke-Sirois

Editor

Anouk Deschênes

Cinematographer

Émile Desroches-Larouche

Original Title

L’artifice

Release Year

2023

Festival Year

2024

Country

Canada

Run Time

17 minutes

Subtitled

Yes