‘Peak Everything’ Director on Getting Personal With Dark Romantic Comedy to “Save Myself”

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Anne Emond’s film “Peak Everything” (Amour Apocalypse) functions equally as a heartfelt missive and a movie, serving as a poignant reflection of the Quebec director’s profound depression experienced during the pandemic in Montreal.

In an open conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Emond shares that initially, she found herself needing a bit of self-rescue, which sparked the idea for her sixth film – a gripping dark romantic comedy destined for its world premiere at Cannes. Titled “Peak Everything”, the story revolves around Adam, portrayed by Patrick Hivon, a French-speaking kennel owner battling intense depression and extreme eco-anxiety, as if the impending doom of an asteroid’s impact on Earth were looming.

However, it wasn’t long before, as the world shook, Adam found himself quickly and irrevocably smitten with Tina, an English-speaking customer service representative for a light therapy lamp company based in Ontario, portrayed by Piper Perabo. “I am Adam,” Emond declared, as Peak Everything was largely influenced by her COVID-19 quarantine experience in 2020, while isolated in Montreal.

She remembered feeling deeply down and struggling, more than just being sad. She wasn’t thriving and recognized that many people experience mental health issues. At the age of 40, she thought she was past such struggles, but at the start of the pandemic, she wasn’t faring well. To combat her lethargy, Emond tried running and meditation, similar to Adam in her movie, but these methods didn’t help her.

However, during the pandemic, a screenwriting friend provided Emond with a light therapy lamp. This device had a customer service hotline, but Emond didn’t call it. Instead, in the book “Peak Everything,” Adam makes the call, finding on the other end a soothing voice belonging to Tina. This voice not only calms his anxieties but also ignites romantic feelings within him.

When a natural catastrophe interrupts his call, an anxious Adam swiftly hops into his vehicle to reach Tina. The unique aesthetic of Peak Everything is characterized by artistic, whimsical scenes that depict Adam and Tina initially connecting, and later finding joy and meaning through their comedic escapades and playful interactions.

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Whenever a natural calamity silences his call, an alarmed Adam quickly climbs into his car to drive to Tina. The distinctive visual style of Peak Everything showcases artistic, quirky moments where Adam and Tina initially find each other, and later discover happiness and purpose through their comedic excursions and romantic banter.

Initially, Emond depicted Tina in his movie as lively and eccentric, but Perabo’s character soon shows hidden layers of depth and difficulties. Emond explains that Tina is not just strong and stable, but she also faces her own issues and is surrounded by individuals grappling with genuine struggles and challenges. He emphasizes that Tina is more than a damsel in distress without personal ambitions.

The story titled “Peak Everything” likewise mirrors a person’s emotional breakdown in the face of an environment on the brink of disaster, while resonating with Emond’s concerns about her mental well-being and the impact of climate change during the pandemic. This is subtly reflected in the film.

In simpler terms, “The director explains that it’s as if the Earth is struggling just like me, and this is the scenario portrayed in the film for Adam.” To convey this, Emond incorporates old recordings of forest fires and melting ice caps into her movie. As the climactic scene unfolds in Peak Everything , Adam battles through a fierce storm with strong winds and heavy rain, reminiscent of a classic ‘go get the guy’ sequence.

As a passionate admirer, let me share that Emond intentionally crafted her self-healing movie to evoke warmth rather than sadness. “It’s a heartfelt tale, it’s a love story,” she expresses. “I want audiences to smile, and I continue to believe in the power of love and the resilience of humanity.” Yet, she emphasizes that amidst the joy, the film acknowledges the genuine struggles we face.

Peak Everything ventures into bilingual filmmaking for the first time for director Emond, as she incorporates English-speaking characters alongside her usual French-language productions. “It’s very Canadian,” she notes. “We’re a bilingual nation. Why not take advantage of it? Everyone in Montreal speaks English daily.

Emond’s film, titled “Peak Everything,” will make its debut on the global stage at Cannes as part of the Directors’ Fortnight lineup. This momentous occasion, she acknowledges, brings her both elation and apprehension. “When they phoned me with the news,” she reminisces, “I was overjoyed, almost to the point of disbelief.”

However, since Emond shares many traits with Adam, the director too experiences intense apprehension as her movie prepares for its premiere in France. “I quickly shifted from feeling joy to being extremely anxious,” Emond reminisces.

However, Peak Everything, with its insightful observations on a world teetering on the brink of disorder and grappling with climate change, may resonate strongly at Cannes. “I’m not the best judge, but I believe the film is releasing at an opportune moment,” Emond expresses. “Every character in the movie seems to be struggling, and they all seem to be overburdened, unable to grasp the complexities of their situations anymore.

She expressed that we’re experiencing a great deal of chaos, with AI, climate change, and political turmoil like Trump. To convey this sense of confusion, she wanted the film to mirror these realities. Moreover, Emond believes artists, particularly filmmakers, can provide solutions during turbulent times by challenging viewers’ comfort zones, highlighting current issues, and raising awareness about injustices.

She maintains that although we’re in a difficult situation, I think fiction could be crucial for addressing the hurdles ahead. Notably, Peak Everything is created by Metafilms, the team behind Matthew Rankin’s absurd comedy drama Universal Language, which won a prize at Cannes.

(Note: The phrase “Peak Everything” refers to the concept that we have reached the maximum potential in various areas such as technological, economic, and environmental advancements, leading to decline.)

The principal actors gracing the screen in “Peak Everything” are Connor Jessup, Gilles Renaud, Elizabeth Mageren, Eric K. Boulianne, Gord Rand, with Indie Sales aiming to market the movie at Cannes.

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2025-05-18 20:24