FIFEQ – The Chalice. Of Sons and Daughters [Opening Night]

To celebrate 20 years of ethnographic cinema, FIFEQ-Montréal invites you to the inauguration of its 20th edition on the 7th of May, 6:30PM at Cinéma Moderne. The night will start with a showing of the film The Chalice: Of Sons and Daughters, a remarkable cinematic masterpiece directed by anthropologist Catalina Tesar and Dana Bunescu. The film transports viewers to the heart of a Romani family in a village in Transylvania, where they follow the lives of a young couple united by an arranged marriage. The couple is pressured by their community to have a boy and thus maintain the chalice, a silver cup passed down exclusively to sons.

After the screening, FIFEQ-Montreal invites you to a dinner at URSA Mtl, proud partner of this special edition. We will offer you a delicious meal with vegetarian and vegan options to satisfy all palates. But that’s not all! After savoring this delightful meal, prepare to be dazzled by the enchanting performances of the talented pianist Maya Nujaim and the 2023 voice finalist, Adam El Mouna.

The evening will continue with a DJ set from WorldWild Sound System. This artistic collective, composed of activists and music enthusiasts, created their own sound system with the aim of broadcasting conscientious and captivating music from around the world. Their mixing style, incorporates reggae, tropical, African, Caribbean, and South American music from the 1960s to the present day, reflects their love for original vinyl records and their commitment to bring their audience on a musical journey. Join us and don’t miss this incredible evening!

Schedule of the evening

5:30 pm – Audience welcome
6:30 pm – Screening begins

The Chalice. Of Sons and Daughters (Canadian premiere)

A journey into the life of a Roma family, living in a Transylvanian village, the film follows Nina and Peli, a young couple unable to conceive a boy despite their best efforts. Amid medical visits and the everyday of family life, tensions within and between families and the negotiations that surround this difficult selective conception emerge. What is at stake is the Chalice, a symbol of the honor and wealth of Peli’s father’s family that has been passed on to Nina’s family. The couple must conceive a boy, so that Chalice can return to the family of Peli. The anthropologist Catalina Tesar, who has followed this community for nearly a decade, and Dana Bunescu’s over-the-shoulder shots transport us into the drama of the family and everyday life of these endearing characters, eclipsing (at times) the very fact that this is a film.

Directed by
Catalina Tesar, Dana Bunescu
2022 / 1h24m / Italian, Romanian (s.t. English)

Filmmakers’ countries : Italy and Romania
Country of filming: Romania, Italy
Country of production: Romania, Italy

Featured selections and awards
Best Documentary Award at ASTRA Film Festival
Werbner Award for Visual Anthropology, Royal Anthropological Institute FF, 2023
Making Waves: New Romanian Cinema 2023