Les ordres / Orderers (Michel Brault, 1974)

[Michael Kerpan]

A chillingly timely film. A kidnapping incident by Quebecois Nationalists in 1970 caused our northern neighbor to abandon any pretense of legal due process. It passed a law abrogating virtually every legal protection for anyone deemed to be a possible "terrorist sympathizer". Hundreds were jailed without charge -- and left imprisoned incommunicado for weeks. This film, though fictionalized, was based on interviews with 50 of the victims of this spree of governmental lawlessness.

The performances here are so life-like that one finds it hard to believe this is not an actual documentary. Of special note, the performances of the most central characters (by Jean Lapointe and Helene Loiselle) as parents of three young girls -- both of whom are arrested -- he because he is a union steward, she -- seemingly out of spite.

The parallels to a certain other nation's legal transgressions, imilarly prompted by a "war against terror", are chilling. If it could happen to our civilized neighbor, it most certainly can happen here too. Maybe it is unsurprising that this Canadian masterpiece is unknown to its southern neighbors.

This is the concluding work in a tremendous (and reasonably priced) fully-bilingual box set "Michel Brault. Oeuvres 1958-1974" -- released by the National Film board of Canada. This also comes with an excellent (large) booklet.

http://www.nfb.ca/trouverunfilm/fichefi ... lg=en&exp=

($39.99 at www.archambault.ca)

[Telstar]

The Brault set sounds great, although this is the first I'm hearing of Archambault's site. Do they have any other interesting English-friendly items that anyone might suggest?

(And just curious if perhaps this thread might be better served by moving it to international cinema or some area other than "old" films...)

[Gordon]

Here's the direct link to the Archambault listing:

Michel Brault: Oeuvres 1958-1974

Also, Claude Jutra films

Gilles Carle's, The Merry World of Leopold Z

Gilles Groulx 6-disc set (why the hell don't they list the contents, eh?)

I don't know much aboot Canadian Cinema, so list some titles, eh?

[Gordon]

Jean Beaudin's, J. A. Martin, photographe (1976).

Subtitles are not listed on many of these titles - not just english subs, subs in general, which can sometimes be misleading. I suppose that the best thing to do would be to email them.

BTW:

All prices are in Canadian dollars

[Gordon]

Donald Shebib's, Goin' Down the Road (1970). English language.

DVD Beaver review.

[Telstar]

Excellent suggestions, Gordon - much appreciated. Goin' Down the Road sounds very promising, and this one caught my eye as well