Willie

At the time, nobody knew what Country music was in Quebec. One factory worker from St-Hyacihthe, a bit an entertainer part time, took the risk and went to become one of French Canada's top entertainers in his field.

However, Country music was popular in rural Quebec. There was Montreal, but it took a while for the big city clubs to recognize the entertaining talents of the country/western star. TV came and brought a much more wider audience, along with his partner Bobby Hachey...

Willie Lamothe was a star at the time, with its qualities of entertainer, wrote original french country songs, but also was a bit of a womanizer, seducing his partner Rita, having his marriage in jeopardy most of the time, let his kids aside (though at the end, he reconciles with his son, who followed his footsteps, but with legendary rock band Offenbach) and was alcoholic. All this wild energy took its toll in the mid 70s when Willie had a serious stroke and forced to retire as he was partly paralyzed. But that didn't keep him to be rooted by legendary cowboy Gene Autry and record some cuts in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry... The movie revolves in a flashback, while Willie, at the last year of his life (1992), was in Florida and was asked to be brought back to Quebec to get a honorary award for his outstanding career...

Story is well written and nicely photographed. Luc Guerin makes a believable Willie Lamothe. Nathalie Malette shines also as Willie's wife.

A great tribute for Quebec's first country and western star.