Debut: ‘Blond Night’ Celebrates The Beauty Of Individuality
Gabrielle Demers, the director of Blond Night, met Patrick Dornerval, who plays Victor in the film, by chance at a thrift store. Demers was immediately inspired by Dornerval, whose independence and verve for life challenged her preconceived notions about individuals with autism. Dornerval inspired her so much, in fact, that she not only set out to fulfill his dream of being in a movie, but she made the movie specifically for him. Blond Night is a wholly unique representation of autism in film, carried by the all-encompassing Patrick Dornerval, who serves as the anchor and emotional core of the short in his powerhouse of a debut.
The film follows Victor, a man with autism, who sets out from his assisted living facility for a spontaneous night out. He stumbles upon Jessy (Dany Boudreault), a young sex worker who was just ejected from a vehicle and thrown to the ground. From there, a unique connection forges between the two; not inherently sexual, but a safe space without judgment that the other needs in that moment.
Jessy’s work unfortunately comes with violence and mistreatment, par for the course with the stigmas and societal judgment that cloud the public perception of sex work. Victor, however, pays no mind to Jessy’s work; in fact, Jessy’s job never even comes up between the two, just as Victor’s autism is never discussed. Do not mistake this for ignorance, however, as Jessy creates a space for Victor, where he never has to explain himself or hide the unique traits he possesses. Victor is himself, and Jessy embraces him. Victor, too, creates something of a sanctuary for Jessy: Victor is gentle with Jessy and gives him his belt and money without hesitation. Victor sees Jessy as a human, beyond his work, just as Jessy sees Victor for more than his autism.
Blond Night is not a love story, nor does it attempt to be one. At the end of the day, Jessy is a sex worker: nights spent in the gay club, where they are in the film, are a typical day’s work. The two do not end up together; they go their separate ways after the encounter, and that is that. But this is deeply beautiful nonetheless. As director Demers puts it, “The beauty of Blond Night lies in its portrayal of a fleeting encounter between two marginalized strangers—individuals who, in that moment, see each other without judgment.” For those with an identity that challenges the various oppressive systems around the world, their individuality is often drowned out by their label.
Although the narrative embraces both Victor's and Jessy’s identities as an autistic man and a sex worker, respectively, their individuality is what ultimately shines through, creating a finished result that challenges current representations. Restrictive labels and one-note characterizations force individuals like actor Donerval and his fictional counterpart, Victor, into boxes, limiting their freedom of expression and, frankly, their identities overall.
Representation is important, but individuality must also be considered in every step. Demers says, “[Dornerval’s] independence and ability to experience life fully touched me deeply. It was essential to portray Victor as someone with his own tastes and choices.” She made this film to celebrate Dornerval, as she had inadvertently failed to understand the diverse spectrum that is autism before meeting him. Unfortunately, this oftentimes seems to be the norm, as society is eager to compartmentalize and categorize people for any given reason.
True individuality shines at its brightest when one can exist without the worry of contrived barriers or labels. No one human has ever been the same, yet this is forgotten when people are repeatedly forced into redundant boxes or stereotypes. Even if their connection was only for a night, Victor and Jessy were able to break through these barriers with one another. They never had to explain a single thing about themselves, but instead, existed without any inhibition.