Based on the novel by Jocelyne Saucier: in rural, northern Quebec, three elderly men (played by Gilbert Sicotte, Rémy Girard, and Kenneth Welsh) reside in a cottage in the woods, living as separately as possible from outside society. Their lives change as an elderly woman (Andrée Lachapelle) escapes her nearby psychiatric hospital to live with them and a young photographer/historian (Ève Landry) wants to know more of their experiences during a massive forest fire that devastated the region many years before.
This film is a fascinating story about fascinating outliers and how they connect with each other. Another character, played by Éric Robidoux plays the nephew of the elderly woman. He manages to connect the other unusual characters with each other while adding a few quirks of his own to the story.
Occasionally, some of the connections are confusing or unexplained. And there is a serious flaw in that there seems to be no police investigation after a senior psychiatric patient has gone missing. But luckily, the strengths of the film outweigh the flaws.
The story and its characters provide a deep perspective of life from people who live differently - sometimes not by their own choices. While it is sometimes easy to dislike the historian for acting like a jerk, her perspective is also given validity. Here, there is good ambiguity. And the acting by the elder actors add a lot to the film's beauty especially that of Lachapelle, her final film as she died late last year. And let's not forget the breathtaking views of the forest and lake. - dbamateurcritic
