177: Gina (1975) with Alexandre Franchi

This week, we’re back in the beginning of Canadian’s first major film boom as writer-director Alexandre Franchi brings us 1975’s “Gina”.

Content warning before we start. This episode deals with a film that falls into the genre of exploitation movies known as “rape-revenge” so we will be discussing sexual assault, as well as cancer, exploitation of workers and graphic violence.

Gina is celebrated Quebecois director Denis Arcand’s second feature film and combines social commentary about his own censored NFB documentary about exploited textile workers with a high energy action thriller - complete with a stylized striptease, the take-no-prisoners leading lady, and a bananas car vs. skidoo chase.

You can rent “Gina” on iTunes right now for $3 and you can find out more about Alexandre’s Happy Face right here.