Days of Darkness (2007 Canadian film)

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Days of Darkness (French: L'Âge des ténèbres), also known as The Age of Ignorance, is a 2007 Canadian-French black comedy-drama film written and directed by Denys Arcand. It stars Marc Labrèche, Diane Kruger, Sylvie Léonard, Emma de Caunes and others. Presented as the third film in Arcand’s loose trilogy that includes The Decline of the American Empire (1986) and The Barbarian Invasions (2003), it was followed by The Fall of the American Empire in 2018. The story follows a depressed Quebec bureaucrat who, feeling insignificant, turns to a fantasy world.

Plot
Jean-Marc Leblanc is a troubled bureaucrat whose wife Sylvie and daughters have lost interest in him. At work he endures a harsh boss who scolds him for minor faults, including an offhand racial remark he insists was not intended as insult. With little romance in his life, Jean-Marc retreats into fantasies about women and revenge, while his everyday life grows increasingly unsatisfying. One of his fantasies centers on a glamorous woman named Veronica Star, and he encounters a Middle Ages–themed fair through a speed-dating encounter. The film intertwines his inner fantasies with surreal and satirical glimpses of modern life.

Production
Arcand wrote the screenplay with Marc Labrèche in mind for the lead. Filming took place in the Montreal Olympic Stadium and along the Saint Lawrence River in Bas-Saint-Laurent. The Middle Ages fair scene was inspired by a real-costume event Arcand had seen. Special effects were added by Hybride in Montreal, and sound mixing occurred in Paris. Arcand urged patience in post-production, saying the film should not be rushed.

Release
Days of Darkness premiered out of competition at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival and also played at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was released in Quebec on December 7, 2007, after a planned May release was delayed due to post-production work. The English titles used for release were Days of Darkness and The Age of Ignorance. The film runs 104 minutes and is in French. It was released on DVD in Quebec on June 30, 2008, with minor differences between provincial and international cuts.

Reception
The film received mixed to negative reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds about 20% approval from 5 reviews. In Canada, Peter Howell of The Toronto Star called it exceptional—often depressing but uplifting—and better than some Palme d’Or contenders. Other critics praised Labrèche’s performance but found parts of the film uneven, with some scenes, like the Medieval fair, dragging. In France, critics were more negative. Some outlets viewed the film as weaker than Arcand’s earlier successes, while others found it charming in parts. It was nominated for four Genie Awards, including Best Motion Picture, and was shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but not ultimately nominated.

Awards
- Genie Awards: four nominations, including Best Motion Picture
- Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film: shortlisted but not nominated

Notes
Days of Darkness is part of Denys Arcand’s broader exploration of modern society through satire and dark humor, continuing themes from his earlier works and foreshadowing later films in the same circle.