Picture of a Nation

André Loiselle, acting director of the School for Studies in Art and Culture launched his book Le Cinéma de Michel Brault, A L’image d’une Nation in Montreal on February 25.

The book focuses on Michel Brault an award-winning French- Canadian film-maker in the latter half of the 20th century. Brault himself attended the launch, along with approximately 150 others. Among the attendees were Brault’s friends and colleagues from the Quebec film industry, including Jacques Godbout, Anne Claire Poirier and Denys Arcand.

“Michel Brault is one of the last remaining members of the generation of filmmakers who gave birth to modern Quebec cinema. He has probably had more influence on the look of Cinema Quebecois, than any other cineaste,” said Loiselle. “I felt it was eminently important to write a book on this central figure of our national film industry.”

Brault contributed over 200 films over his 50-year career. By turns cameraman, director of photography, director and producer, Brault’s work included Mon Oncle Antoine (1971), Les Ordres (1974) and Les bons debarras (1980). While his interests ranged from documentaries to feature films, all captured the post-war period in Quebec.

In addition to, but separate from the book, a collection of Brault’s films from 1958 to 1974 has been combined into a box set of DVDs. Loiselle also edited a smaller book that accompanies the DVD.

The collection includes two of his best and most important films Pour La Suite du Monde and Les Orderes. A second collection of his films made over the past 30 years will be released later next year.

“L’Acadie, l’Acadie?!? Is available for the first time in its integral version with English subtitles. The English version first released in 1972 had been cut by 20 minutes because of the anti-Anglophone politics expressed in certain scenes,” said Loiselle. “This is the first time Anglophones will be able to see the whole film, which had a profound impact on the rise of political awareness in Acadia.”

The Quebec launch at the downtown National Film Board (NFB) Cinéma, is the first celebration of the book. A second launch is scheduled for Paris later this spring.