Madeleine is an integral team member at the grocery store where she works – efficient, knowledgeable and thoughtful with the clients, while also known as a prankster by her coworkers. She loves her work, so when the decision is made that she should be retiring, it feels like her whole life is being taken away. With Mon coeur de tomate (My Tomato Heart), writer/director Benoît Le Rouzès Ménard crafts a poignant narrative, with a strong female character at its center whose Down syndrome is not the focal point of her story. “One day, I learned that the life expectancy of people with Down syndrome had increased considerably over time (…) At the same time, I was surprised to discover that new eugenic screening methods were leading to the elimination of more than nine out of ten Down’s syndrome embryos”, explains Le Rouzès Ménard. This striking paradox became the inspiration for My Tomato Heart. Having a lead character with a disability – without making that disability a defying trait – is not common in cinema, making it one of the most refreshing aspects of the film. While also making it an important short in terms of representation. Stéphanie Colle (L) stars as Madeleine in My Tomato Heart.Madeleine is also a fun character, with a strong personality who doesn’t let others walk all over her. She doesn’t hesitate to participate in the friendly teasing of a new coworker, can be a little inconsistent when it comes to taking her medication, and struggles when things don’t go her way. These traits makes for an interesting conflict, as we see her coming to terms with the end of a chapter in her life. Actress Stéphanie Colle delivers an impressive performance as Madeleine, navigating the nuances of her character, while reacting to a life changing transition. She portrays the heartbreak of her character with a gripping authenticity, while also infusing the role with a delightful touch of humour.To enhance her performance, Le Rouzès Ménard worked with DP Vincent Biron (I’ll End Up in Jail) who cleverly frames her, at times tightening the shot around her to echo how her world is closing in on her, or how she experiences and moves through her environment. Artistic directors Mélanie Truchon and Chiara Fossati also contribute heavily to the visual aesthetic of the film, especially in the store, where their carefully designed set helps to convey the comfort of Madeleine’s routine and how it gets shaken by the ripple effects on her heart. Beyond the narrative, My Tomato Heart is a deeply sensorial experience. Le Rouzès Ménard – also credited as the editor – uses the pacing of the film to immerse the audience in Madeleine’s emotional process, dictating the rhythm to create an effective emotional build-up.My Tomato Heart premiered on home turf in Canada in 2023 with selections at Montreal’s Festival du Nouveau Cinéma and Vancouver’s VIFF, before making its international premiere at the 2024 edition of SXSW. It is part of the esteemed Travelling Distribution catalogue.