Savage Messiah (2002 film)

Savage Messiah (French: Moïse, l’affaire Roch Thériault) is a Canadian thriller-drama film, released in 2002. The film dramatizes the real-life story of Roch "Moïse" Thériault, a cult leader who was arrested in Burnt River, Ontario, in 1989.

The film stars Luc Picard as Thériault, and Polly Walker as Paula Jackson, the social worker whose investigation revealed Thériault's crimes.[1] The film's cast also includes Isabelle Blais, Louis Ferreira, Pascale Montpetit, Isabelle Cyr, Robert Higden and Domini Blythe.

The film garnered seven Genie Award nominations at the 23rd Genie Awards. Picard won Best Actor, Montpetit won Best Supporting Actress and screenwriter Sharon Riis won Best Adapted Screenplay. The film was also nominated, but did not win, in the categories of Best Actress (Walker and Blais), Best Cinematography (Serge Ladouceur) and Best Costume Design (Mario Davignon). Director Mario Azzopardi was also nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Direction - Feature Film at the 2003 Director's Guild of Canada awards.