Conquest

Why does it always seem when one is trapped in a place which is off the map, it's usually where one was meant to be in the first place? That seems to be the argument posited by Conquest, a droll comedy about eccentrics living in a small town and the outsider who falls in with them. Tara Fitzgerald, from Sirens and Brassed Off fame, plays the traveler whose 'steed' breaks down and Lothaire Bluteau is the town's banker who becomes smitten with her when he knows she doesn't plan to stay long. Albeit the cracks and seams of this tried and true genre are evident here but the mixing up of genre staples such as the brothers who spend their time painting while in debt to the bank, the old biddies constantly making jelly salads and getting drunk while berry picking whenever they purchase new shoes, and the banker who yearns to leave but can't because for 1)the bus never seems to stop and 2)his family was ruined by the same bank he works for so he figures he can make a difference, all work well to give, at least to this bitter and jaundiced viewer, a chance to smile and await the obvious machinations to develop as we know they will. Not entirely original but entirely enjoyable.

In our teens, a cousin and I first met.

He had lived in London and San Francisco until moving to a southern town as small and seemingly isolated as "Conquest".

Instead of being bored, he had a great attitude and found humor in the town and its people whom he really cared about, and embraced what there was instead of yearning for what there wasn't.

I had loved Dallas and Miami as much as any of the places I grew up, but always loved spending time with him in his neck of the woods and did so at every opportunity.

This movie reminded me of this and much more in my nomadic life. The scenery was nice and the characters interesting in themselves without trying to be.

The love of home and the hope for its future really came through.

I saw this on cable years ago and have been searching for it lately, as I did not recall the title or any actors names. I have just now found it and had to post.

I would enjoy seeing this slow-moving, comfortable film again for all its quirkiness and its rich characters and feelings.

"Conquest" is a small, dying farming town in rural Saskatchewan where Pincer (Bluteau) has lived his entire life and is struggling to keep the bank from going under and where Daisy's (Fitzgerald) car breaks down leaving her all but stranded. So begins a lite drama mixed with some humor, mild romance, scenic beauty, and the idiosyncratic antics of the local people. "Conquest" is a simple, musing film which is as difficult to fault as it is to praise. An enjoyable watch and little else.

I first saw this movie on TV, & my first impression was that it was very slow moving, although interesting. I would have rated it about a 6 or 7 at that time. But oddly, I kept thinking about the movie until I got to the point where I just had to see it again, & believe me, as of this writing, it's very difficult to find a copy. I finally found it online at a Canadian video site, which makes sense because it's a Canadian-British production. This movie has many things going for it. First, the atmosphere of Conquest, Sask., Canada is beautifully captured (it's not a real place & actually, three Canadian locations were used for the filming). Conquest is a near-Ghost Town inhabited by a couple dozen senior citizens (there are only two inhabitants who look under 65). Everyone else has left, & for good reason: it's dead boring in Conquest. The place is lifeless until one day when Daisy (Tara Fitzgerald in a magnificent acting job) breezes into town. Her youth, energy, good looks, bright clothes, & caring personality breathe life into this "dust bin" of a town, & the bittersweet story goes from there. The acting is all around great (although it was a bit hard for me to understand some of the main characters, who variously have heavy British, odd French, Canadian, & Vietnamese accents). The simple story is loaded with symbolism, & there are some very David Lynch-esque touches (as in "Twin Peaks"). Lothaire Bluteau (yes, there is an "e" at the end of his first name) is very good in the main male lead. Monique Mercure & David Fox, as an older couple, are both very good. And as I said before, Tara is Terrific & steals the show! I've seen the movie four times now that I own a copy, & it gets better every time. It is slow moving & deliberately paced, but hey, that's part of the charm of Conquest, nothing happening & no place to go. I would categorize this film as a comedy-romance, but actually there's little comedy & little romance, but an awful lot of poignancy. Stick with it, you'll find it a very rewarding experience, & it's a movie that you'll think back to for a long time to come. Parental caution: there is some (separate) male & female nudity in this that may not be appropriate for all kids, but it is not focused upon. I rate it 10/10.

OK, HERES THE SCOOP......I live in Conquest, Saskatchewan my whole life (except for the few years I've worked in and around the province).....and NOW I find a movie called "Conquest"......that has NO RESEMBLANCE to anytime,anything (let alone anyone) FROM Conquest......I remember a film company "looking" at possible sites for a movie a few years ago....but that was in-between to local communities of Bounty and Ardath......All I want to know is WHERE was this filmed? a specific LOCATION would be appreciated.....thanks!XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXX XXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX X XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXX!