| Amanita Pestilens | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | René Bonnière |
| Produced by | F.R. Crawley |
| Written by | David Walker |
| Starring | Jacques Labrecque Huguette Oligny |
| Music by | Larry Crosley |
| Cinematography | Frank Stokes |
| Editing by | René Bonnière |
| Studio | Crawley Films |
| Running time | 79 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $275,000 (estimated in CAD) |
Amanita Pestilens is a 1963 Canadian film produced by F. R. Crawley, directed by René Bonnière. It was "the first Canadian feature film to be shot in both English and French with the same set of actors"[1] and which included an early career performance by Geneviève Bujold along with performances by Jacques Labrecque and Huguette Oligny.[2] This was also the first time a Canadian feature film was produced in colour. It was filmed at Harrington Lake, Quebec, Canada.
The film's script was written by David Walker and initially titled Staircases. Bonnière persuaded Crawley to fund and produce a film based on this script. The new title, Amanita Pestilens, meant "Poisoned Love".[1]
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The plot concerns a Montreal suburbanite who becomes obsessed with his award-winning lawn which has been infested with a ground fungus. His neighbour across the street identifies the species as Amanita pestilens (not a real species, although Amanita is a real genus). The mushrooms prove impossible to eradicate, and the homeowner directs all his efforts to getting rid of them, to the exclusion of all else. His obsession very nearly destroys his life and leads to a deadly confrontation with his neighbour. A surprise ending, however, gives the viewer hope that the main character will see the error of his ways.
The film was screened at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1965 and broadcast on West German television and also broadcast into East Germany. Despite the innovations of its bilingual, colour production, Amanita Pestilens was a commercial failure.[1]
There is no known video release although the film was shown on Moviepix (Mpix) on 10 May 1998.[2]