MAURICE - FRANCOIS JAROS (2015)

Written by Francois Jaros and Marie-Eve Leclerc-Dionand, and directed by the former, Maurice is a French-language short from Canada. It tells the story of the eponymous Maurice, who has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease and has decided to take his own life before he loses his autonomy. Thus he sets about putting his affairs in order before the day of his suicide arrives. Maurice manages to negotiate this sentimental subject matter without being too mawkish and although it is Canadian, the film feels very French in its mien (pun intended). Jaros had a previous short, Life's A Bitch, shown at Sundance and has gone on to have a successful career directing TV since making Maurice, which did well on the festival circuit - picking up several wins. If you like Maurice by Francois Jaros, be sure to rate and share it.