Experiencing Interruptions?

Breathe

Fouad, a 15-year-old Moroccan immigrant, and Max, a 27-year-old Quebecer, both live frustrating lives, but their respective destinies lead them to meet face-to-face in a situation from which neither will emerge unscathed.

  • Onur Karaman
    Director
  • Onur Karaman
    Writer
  • Onur Karaman
    Producer
  • Patrick Bilodeau
    Producer
  • Amedamine Ouerghi
    Key Cast
    "Fouad"
  • Fred Lemay
    Key Cast
    "Max"
  • Mohammad Marouazi
    Key Cast
    "Atif"
  • Houda Rihanni
    Key Cast
    "Rachida"
  • Roger Léger
    Key Cast
    "Gilles"
  • Marie Charlebois
    Key Cast
    "Maryse"
  • Guillaume Laurin
    Key Cast
    "Jérémie"
  • Claudia Bouvette
    Key Cast
    "Josée"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Respire
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 30 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 7, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    1,435,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    Arabic, French
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:85
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Cinemania
    Montreal
    Canada
    November 7, 2022
    World Premiere
    Best National Film
Director Biography - Onur Karaman

Originally from Turkey, Onur and his family moved to Quebec when he was 8 years old. In his early adult years, his passion for cinema would prove to be too much to contain and he would embark on a quest to further his education. He filmed his first feature LA FERME DES HUMAINS (The Urban Farm) in 2014, which was soon followed by LÀ OÙ ATILLA PASSE (There Where Atilla Passes) in 2016 and LE COUPABLE (Guilt) in 2018. RESPIRE (Breathe) is his fourth feature film, in which he fills the roles of director, scriptwriter and producer. He is currently leading the post-production stage for his first English horror film, EMPTINESS.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

In Turkey, my family was doing well financially. My father being an engineer, we lived very well, to the point of deciding to venture on the American continent. When we arrived in Quebec, I realized that I would be much less popular than I was in Turkey. My father, who used to manage major projects in Turkey and Algeria, could not even find a job as a junior engineer. My mother, who hadn't worked since she got married, found herself having to work in a factory. The transition was brutal.

I too had to fight with words and fists against the racism I was experiencing from other students because I was from Turkey. Despite all I have been through, I did not have an unhappy childhood or adolescence, quite the contrary : it was filled with richness. This is why it was important to me to make a nuanced film. Nothing is completely white or black. I do not want to point the finger at anyone with this film.

Max and Fouad could very well be me. A 15-year-old Onur who only wants to play soccer when there is too much noise around him. When there are too many obstacles between anonymity and glory, but too few between distress and the streets. It could also be me, at 27, working in a corporation that only works by using statistics. Maybe in the end, BREATHE represents my duality? My story shared between two realities that I have known too well. This may also be the story of many people.
BREATHE is a film that showcases characters living frustrating and hopeless existences, which drives them towards violence. This is a reality that we see too often and we need to talk about it. My primary intention with the film is to open a dialogue. It is the beginning of all healing.

We are all the same in our differences.