After a pan-Quebec tour, the film Chiennes de faïence (in English Hammer & Thong) invited to shine elsewhere in Canada

Presented at the Théâtre Outremont in front of 500 people on Sunday, June 1st, Marie-Hélène Panisset’s first feature-length fiction film, starring Sonia Quirion and Megan Saunders, also delighted filmgoers in Roberval, Dolbeau, Quebec, Joliette, Beloeil and St-Hyacinthe, leaving in its wake, between May 28th and June 5th, questions and answers that the public is rarely led to reflect on, especially coming from a summer comedy!

“Hilarious” “Thought-provoking” “groundbreaking” are all adjectives with which viewers flooded social networks following their viewing of the film, leading the team to believe that the challenge of mobilizing the public around a subject as delicate as women’s right to control their bodies, while allowing them to have a pleasant time, was met with flying colors.

Building on this great success, the director is preparing to unveil her film beyond the borders of Quebec: first in Toronto (under the title “Hammer & Thong” in its English-subtitled version) at the Carlton Cinema, an event in collaboration with Cinefranco, the International Francophone Film Festival, on June 16. Then, on July 3, it will be the turn of the public in Tracadie-Sheila, New Brunswick, to discover the film in its unilingual French version during a screening followed by a Q&A with the director at Cinéma Péninsule.

Wherever “Chiennes de faïence” (Hammer & Thong)) goes, people are captivated, shaken, and charmed. While the team was wary of shocking audiences with this film, they are surprised and proud to see that Quebec audiences, in both major cities and rural areas, are far more open-minded than the polarization on social media might suggest.

We are excited to spread the good news to the rest of Canada!

About the movie: 

“Chiennes de faïence” (Hammer & Thong) is the first feature film written and directed by Marie-Hélène Panisset, producer of the 2019 Oscar-nominated short film “Marguerite.” Premiering at the Sherbrooke World Cinema Festival last April, this comedy about women’s rights to control their own bodies won Radio-Canada’s People Choice Award.

Starring Sonia Quirion and Megan Saunders, this story centers on two women with very little in common: one is a fan of plastic surgery, the other wears the niqab. They are forced to engage in dialogue when they find themselves trapped together in a broken elevator. Will they be able to put aside their differences to get out of this predicament?

Distributed in Canada by UniAction Films, Chiennes de faïence fulfills the organization’s mandate to raise awareness about various social issues. Far from preaching to the public however, the film tickles more than it accuses, gently leading the audience to question certain preconceived notions, particularly about women who wear the Muslim veil but also those who resort to cosmetic surgery. At what length is a skirt too short and a veil too covering? This is the seemingly innocuous question posed to the audience right before each screening followed by a Q&A, and which inspires the audience to debate long after seeing the film.

Next showings :

June 16th, 7pm – Carlton Cinema – Toronto, ONT

July 3rd– Cinéma Péninsule – Tracadie-Sheila, NB

Several screenings are scheduled in the Bas-St-Laurent region as part of the Semaine québécoise des rencontres interculturelles 2025 under the theme Le Québec en commun.

About  Marie-Hélène Panisset

Trained in journalism, communications, classical dance, and art history, Marie-Hélène Panisset was nominated for an Oscar in 2019 for producing the short film Marguerite. She worked as an art director in advertising and as a VFX producer, notably on the series Big Little Lies 2 directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, before launching into directing herself. Her filmography as a director/producer includes art films and documentaries, as well as the feature film Lucidité passagère, released in 2010, which she co-directed. CHIENNES DE FAÏENCE is her first feature-length fiction film written and directed solo.

About the actors

Sonia Quirion is CHANTAL

Hours and hours of training in acting on camera allow her to play the role of this ordinary, self-conscious woman with accuracy and humor, making Chantal a highly endearing character, with whom we readily identify.

Megan Saunders is SAMIRA

An emerging actress and model of mixed origin, her interpretation of this veiled woman is tinged with empathy, while highlighting the complexity of the challenges faced by women practicing the Muslim religion in Quebec.

Charles Papasoff is DR. LOVEBIRD

Both composer and actor, Charles brings the necessary charisma to make this unscrupulous plastic surgeon a villain we love to hate, in addition to providing the film with original music that is at times lively and at times captivating.

Jeremyah Mogni est IDRISS

Named a rising star in the most recent ELLE QUÉBEC, Jeremyah Mogni plays with grace and agility Idriss, a taxi driver here but an engineer in his home country, who finds in this story the opportunity to show the world what he is capable of.

Skye Dorval is MARIBEL

Born and raised in  Sherbrooke where the film was also shot, Skye Dorval plays with flair this influencer who doesn’t mince her words and puts white cis men in their place.