Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Queer romance Montreal, Ma Belle shows the city like never before, and the red carpet belongs to Chappell Roan

Feb 11, 2026
Joan Summers, senior editor and fashion critic, explains why Chappell Roan’s Grammys dress cut through the noise. Thomas Leblanc, Radio-Canada cultural commentator, provides context on Montréal, ma belle and Quebec cinema. Hoai-Tran Bui, entertainment editor and culture critic, discusses Joan Chen’s shift into complex leading roles and the film’s slow-burn queer romance.
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INSIGHT

Quebec Cinema Meets Immigrant Reality

  • Montréal, Ma Belle blends Quebec cinema with immigrant stories to show rarely seen Chinese immigrant life.
  • Thomas Leblanc notes the film humanizes depanneur owners and intergenerational language and cultural dynamics.
INSIGHT

Language As A Cultural Key

  • Language functions as a gateway to identity and belonging for Feng Sha; translation scenes feel authentic.
  • Hoai-Tran Bui highlights the tension between resisting assimilation and wanting a better life for kids.
INSIGHT

Slow-Burn Romance That Earns Trust

  • The central romance is a slow burn that earns emotional realism through backstory and gradual intimacy.
  • Thomas Leblanc says understanding Camille's past makes the relationship believable.
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