Flush: A Cinematic Dive into Despair
Flush, directed by Grégory Morin, recently snagged the Audience Award at the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival. This film masterfully blends toilet humor with heartfelt despair. With a tragic hero at its center, it’s a movie best enjoyed with friends. Each misadventure ramps up the tension, making it hard not to feel for the main character by the end.
The setting is almost entirely a single toilet stall, showcasing what can be done with a low budget. Morin uses close-ups and creative angles to keep the action dynamic. Writers Morin and Daid Neiss skillfully expand the world beyond just jokes, using conversations that make the characters relatable.
At the heart of the story is Luc (played by Jonathan Lambert), a middle-aged man struggling with a serious cocaine addiction and personal turmoil. He’s been bombarding his ex, Val (Élodie Navarre), with unwanted calls, desperately trying to rekindle their relationship. They share a daughter, Zoe, living with Luc’s mother. Val believes it’s better for Zoe to stay away from Luc, adding emotional weight to Luc’s quest.
As Luc’s day takes a turn for the worse, he faces one misfortune after another—from getting stuck in a squat toilet to foreboding threats of violence. His antics are both cringe-worthy and engaging: a rat causing trouble and a glory hole in the stall add dark humor to his plight.
Lambert’s performance is the film’s backbone. He instills enough humanity in Luc to evoke sympathy, even as Luc wrestles with his demons. This film’s sense of despair is reminiscent of iconic scenes from Trainspotting, but unique in its full-length exploration of Luc’s downward spiral.
The film also serves as a cautionary tale. According to recent studies, societal attitudes towards drug use have shifted dramatically. A report revealed that 14% of adolescents have experimented with cocaine, emphasizing the relevance of Flush as a sobering discussion piece for parents.
If you’re looking for a movie that dives deep into life’s messiness, Flush is a compelling choice.
