I cannot believe there are no more than three reviews of this film, given the importance of the man who made it in the general culture of Quebec film making.
I should say that I am not a big fan of Falardeau's and so my attempt to clarify his intentions and aesthetic will no doubt be weak at best. This is probably his most polished looking film. His other dramas, "Octobre" and "Le Party" are rougher looking, sometimes hand held and choppy in the editing, to suggest the edgy situations or settings. Here Falardeau has adopted a very slow, elegant style, with slow travelling shots following or pushing in to the actors.
At the time the film came out Falardeau was very careful to make clear that he was not attempting to make an historically accurate account of Thomas Chevalier de Lorimier's last day before being hung. In fact Falardeau repeatedly told interviewers that people who were interested in a more fact based film, should see Michel Brault's "Quand je serai parti... vous vivrez encore." (The Long Winter) made the same year. Both films were submitted to the same government bodies for grant money and so were in direct competition not only for development money, but for box office. While Brault's film is very good, Falardeau's is superb.
Falardeau (who passed away recently) was a politically engaged film maker and an active, even rabid separatist. Each and every film he made had a contemporary political slant. His short "Le temps des bouffons" is a must see if you can stomach that level of vitriol. Or you could rent the low budget "Octobre" which caused quite a stir when it came out. Again with this film, if you are able to place it in perspective, is one of the more powerful dramas to come along on the Quebec film scene in the past 20 years.
Falardeau uses the historical event of de Lorimier's death as a pretext for political commentary. This is not to say Falardeau has not rigorously researched his subject matter. As with Octobre, he spent a lot of time reading books on the period, the personal diaries and letters of the men who participated in these events, but also the writings of Che Gueverra and other revolutionaries past and present. If you listen to his commentary track on the DVD, he dissects quite clearly where he stole (his own word) all the ideas in the movie and what he distorted for the sake of either drama or as fodder for his political agenda.
In a nutshell, the film tells the story of two political prisoners, men condemned by the British military court for rebellion against the crown, who are to be hanged as an example the following day. As they face the prospect of death and political martyrdom, their fellow prisoners try to help them through the long hours leading to their death.
Thomas Chevalier de Lorimier (a folk hero after whom a major boulevard is named in Montreal) is a notary, a man of education and sensitivity. He receives a visit from his wife. Luc Picard, one of Quebec's best living actors, and Sylvie Drapeau, give heart wrenching performances as de Lorimier and his wife.
The other condemned man is a french émigré, who spends his last hours on earth joking and playing games with the other prisoners in the cell block. There is a large and talented group of actors in this film, playing the prisoners in a wonderful ensemble.
This is a slow paced film. At times touching, funny and irreverent, the tension builds towards the inevitable denouement and execution of the prisoners. The hanging scene at the end is not for the squeamish.
I should say that I am not a big fan of Falardeau's and so my attempt to clarify his intentions and aesthetic will no doubt be weak at best. This is probably his most polished looking film. His other dramas, "Octobre" and "Le Party" are rougher looking, sometimes hand held and choppy in the editing, to suggest the edgy situations or settings. Here Falardeau has adopted a very slow, elegant style, with slow travelling shots following or pushing in to the actors.
At the time the film came out Falardeau was very careful to make clear that he was not attempting to make an historically accurate account of Thomas Chevalier de Lorimier's last day before being hung. In fact Falardeau repeatedly told interviewers that people who were interested in a more fact based film, should see Michel Brault's "Quand je serai parti... vous vivrez encore." (The Long Winter) made the same year. Both films were submitted to the same government bodies for grant money and so were in direct competition not only for development money, but for box office. While Brault's film is very good, Falardeau's is superb.
Falardeau (who passed away recently) was a politically engaged film maker and an active, even rabid separatist. Each and every film he made had a contemporary political slant. His short "Le temps des bouffons" is a must see if you can stomach that level of vitriol. Or you could rent the low budget "Octobre" which caused quite a stir when it came out. Again with this film, if you are able to place it in perspective, is one of the more powerful dramas to come along on the Quebec film scene in the past 20 years.
Falardeau uses the historical event of de Lorimier's death as a pretext for political commentary. This is not to say Falardeau has not rigorously researched his subject matter. As with Octobre, he spent a lot of time reading books on the period, the personal diaries and letters of the men who participated in these events, but also the writings of Che Gueverra and other revolutionaries past and present. If you listen to his commentary track on the DVD, he dissects quite clearly where he stole (his own word) all the ideas in the movie and what he distorted for the sake of either drama or as fodder for his political agenda.
In a nutshell, the film tells the story of two political prisoners, men condemned by the British military court for rebellion against the crown, who are to be hanged as an example the following day. As they face the prospect of death and political martyrdom, their fellow prisoners try to help them through the long hours leading to their death.
Thomas Chevalier de Lorimier (a folk hero after whom a major boulevard is named in Montreal) is a notary, a man of education and sensitivity. He receives a visit from his wife. Luc Picard, one of Quebec's best living actors, and Sylvie Drapeau, give heart wrenching performances as de Lorimier and his wife.
The other condemned man is a french émigré, who spends his last hours on earth joking and playing games with the other prisoners in the cell block. There is a large and talented group of actors in this film, playing the prisoners in a wonderful ensemble.
This is a slow paced film. At times touching, funny and irreverent, the tension builds towards the inevitable denouement and execution of the prisoners. The hanging scene at the end is not for the squeamish.