User reviews

This historical movie has the depth necessary to convey an appropriate message and reflect on the very widespread process of colonisation and assimilation. The eternal theme of liberty and freedom are omnipresent, but there also is a very human aspect to it. Since the movie is almost exclusively confined to a jail cell, it was nice to see the effects political imprisonment had on individuals. The movie clearly explains the motivation French Quebecers have to be independent and also deals with the actualisation of loyalty, friendship, love and sacrifice. The script is well written and the acting thorough. All in all, a great Quebec film.

Luc Picard is a great actor. I've seen several of his films and I think this is his best performance. Pierre Falardeau, despite his seemingly extreme separatist views, makes powerful films. His comments about not caring what they thought of his film in remote parts of English Canada are really arrogant, but I can't wait to see what he gives us next. And Sylvie Drapeau was wonderful in this one, too.

Movie maker Pierre Falardeau had to make a stupid and dumb movie (Elvis Gratton : Miracle à Memphis) to finance this wonderful film. For about the last five years, he had to battle to get any source of financial support. That's the big problem with movies in Quebec. We have a lot of real great directors, but they don't have any money. At last, here's the film! And Falardeau, I suppose, had to be very proud of it. And we're proud of Falardeau, and we hope that people of others country had a chance to see his talent with this film (and not Elvis Gratton!). This is the warm and touching story of the last day of two men, on February 15th 1939. The two were part of the patriotic rebellion of Canadians (most of them French Canadians) against the British. If the film make politics and historical points, the principal idea deals with the feelings of two men about to die by hanging. There's also big feelings about friendship, solidarity and, of course, patriotism. Luc Picard is absolutely wonderful as the star. And theatrical actress Sylvie Drapeau makes one of the most powerfull presence for an actress in a Quebec movie. One little thing that anoying me is the language of the actors : Quebec's own slang (joual) was not really the French the people here were speaking in 1839. There's also dirty words of religious source that will appear in our culture only 30-40 years later. Also note that, two times, actors relate to Dollars and cents, and that was not the money in use in Canada at that time (Pennies and Shillings). Despite this, the movie is a must to see !