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Valérie is a 1969 black-and-white Canadian erotic film directed by Denis Héroux. It was the first Quebec film to show nudity. It turned an unprecedented gross of $1.68 million, making it the highest-grossing Canadian film of its time.[1]

Plot

Danielle Ouimet upon leaving a convent with the leader of a motorcycle gang, discovers the hippie culture of Montreal and turns to prostitution. This improbable storyline, made famous by the frank display of nudity and sexuality, came from a culture that was still labouring under a strong sense of Catholic guilt. It was the first of a group of films known as maple-syrup porn.[1]

Production

Valérie was filmed in August and September 1968, with a budget of $99,000 (equivalent to $827,282 in 2023).[2]

Release

The film was released in Montreal on 2 May 1969, by Cinépix, the producer and distributor.[2] It was the highest-grossing of all-time in Canada with a gross of $1,684,000[3] and earned $2 million (equivalent to $15,949,239 in 2023) after being shown in forty countries.[4] It was the most attended Quebec film since Little Aurore's Tragedy.[4] The film was seen by 153,734 people in France.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Valerie". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Turner 1987, p. 77.
  3. ^ "Canadian Films Grosses". Variety. November 24, 1976. p. 32.
  4. ^ a b Melnyk 2004, p. 137.
  5. ^ Marshall 2001, p. 85.

Works cited


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