Ciné Club: Ru by Charles-Olivier Michaud

Join us for a moving and atmospheric evening with Ru, the acclaimed 2023 Québécois film directed by Charles-Olivier Michaud, beautifully shot across Quebec’s winter landscapes and adapted from the internationally bestselling eponymous novel by Kim Thúy.

Structured like the novel, the film moves fluidly between past and present: scenes of the dangerous escape by boat and life in refugee camps are juxtaposed with the snowy landscapes of Quebec, where Tinh must learn a new language and navigate cultural differences. The film offers a moving look at migration, cultural adaptation, and the process of rebuilding a life in a new country.

Director Charles-Olivier Michaud, known for his visually driven and contemplative style, brings Kim Thúy’s lyrical prose to the screen with sensitivity and restraint. Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2023, Ru received multiple Canadian Screen Award nominations and has been widely praised for its powerful performances and its poignant depiction of the immigrant experience in Quebec.

Following the screening, MIT Professor Aliko Songolo will lead a discussion drawing on his research on Francophone cinema. He will offer historical and cultural context on the representation of the refugee narratives, while opening a broader conversation on Quebec cinema, Kim Thúy’s literary journey, and the ways in which Ru translates personal memory and migration into film.

The evening will conclude with a wine reception, offering time to continue the conversation with fellow cinephiles.