filmThe long-awaited sequel to “Dune” premiered this weekend, but more than six weeks ago a couple were allowed to see the film earlier. Film director Denis Villeneuve, 56, has granted the last wish of a terminally ill Canadian man who desperately wanted to see “Dune: Part Two” before he died. The fifty-year-old, along with his girlfriend, spent the movie night in a locked hospital room, on Villeneuve's own laptop.
It's the L'Avant charity that started it all. Founder Jose Gagnon posted a call on Facebook in January. “I would like to create some magic for someone at the end of their life,” the message read. She said the plan had to be made quickly, because the man only had a few weeks to live. She did not reveal the man's name to protect his privacy. It didn't take long before Gagnon was able to provide a good update: the request had reached director Villeneuve.
The founder said the director and his wife, Tania Lapointe, executive producer of “Dune 2,” were deeply affected by the Canadian man's death wish when Gagnon contacted them. The couple suggested that the man travel to Montreal or Los Angeles so he could watch the movie there. But that was not possible, and Gagnon had to be disappointed. The man was very weak.
So an alternative plan was made. On January 16, Villeneuve's assistant traveled to Quebec with the director's laptop. He then delivered it to the hospital where the sick man was staying. He was able to watch the movie with his girlfriend with the curtains closed. Great importance was attached to confidentiality. All participants in the scheme signed a confidentiality contract and phones were put away to prevent leaks.
Gagnon said in the Washington Post that the man did not speak English and watched the film with French subtitles. In the end, he failed to continue for the full 2 hours and 46 minutes. He was in so much pain he had to stop somewhere in the middle of the movie. “He was so weak that we thought he was going to die while watching the movie,” Gagnon wrote on Facebook. The man died a few days later.
On the Canadian radio show “Place Public,” Gannon said that many employees considered the whole plan a failure because the man had never seen the end of the movie. But the founder of L'Avant sees it differently. “It's extraordinary what this man went through. The end of the movie, when she's about to die, doesn't mean anything. The woman hasn't seen the movie herself yet, but she plans to do so soon. “I'm going to smile like an idiot the whole time when I think about this,” she said. Beautiful story.” “I’m thinking about it.”
The “Dune” films, inspired by the science fiction book series of the same name by Frank Herbert, revolve around the battle for the desert planet Arrakis, where a rare resource can be found that, among other things, extends life and shows users the future. The second Dune film grossed $178 million worldwide in its first weekend. The action film managed to recover almost its entire budget within five days.
look. “Dune: Part 2”: now showing in Flemish cinemas
Blockbuster movie “Dune 2” grossed $178 million in its first weekend
Exclusive. Zendaya stars in the sci-fi film “Dune 2”, but she faces a downside: “Since I became famous, the spontaneity has disappeared” (+)
'Dune' actress Rebecca Ferguson was reprimanded by a famous actor on set: 'I walked away crying'
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss a thing from the stars.
“Friendly communicator. Music trailblazer. Internet maven. Twitter buff. Social mediaholic.”
More Stories
Actors Intentionally Cut From Sci-Fi Epic ‘Megalopolis’: ‘Not a Woke Hollywood Movie’
Caroline Rego: “The golden rule is: for every glass of alcohol, one glass of water to replace it!”
Director of 1994’s The Crow Praises Remake’s Failure: ‘It’s a Bloodbath’