It may seem somewhat incongruous that comedian Christophe Davidson has been selected to be the spokesperson for the Au Contraire Film Festival (Oct. 25 to 28 at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts). The festival, now in its fourth year, showcases films that challenge the myths and perceptions surrounding mental illness.
But though friends and colleagues might have assumed Davidson was generally a happy-go-lucky wit, he has had his fair share of demons with which to contend, and which he has largely kept secret. For the first time, he wishes to address them, at Au Contraire and in advance of World Suicide Prevention Day on Sept. 10.
Not only has Davidson had to deal with severe depression and bipolar issues, he is still trying to come to terms with the suicide of his father last year.
“It sounds almost cliché, but those who are suffering from depression have to alert people,” he says. “If I had had any idea about where my father was at, I would have dropped everything to go to support him. There’s a lot of ‘would have dones.’