Being an allophone, and someone who’s spent a good chunk of my life abroad, I sometimes feel removed from the perpetual French-English linguistic debate taking place here. As a result, my perspective is one of detached objectivity, which often doesn't lend itself to emotionally-charged tub-thumping diatribes about the loss of English rights or the imminent danger the French language is in. I'm not saying my view is more 'evolved'; I'm saying it's less inclined to attach itself to knee-jerk reactions to the politics of division
It’s therefore with great interest that I read a La Presse interview this past Monday in which Montreal filmmaker Jacob Tierney, complained about how “immigrants and anglos are ignored in Quebec’s film reality.”
His statement predictably caused an onslaught of angry reactions from some francophones accusing him of Quebec bashing, including one by blogger Stéphane Laporte, who claimed there was nothing wrong with Quebec cinema portraying “above everything else, OUR history.”
The problem with that statement, as The Gazette’s Showbiz Chez Nous columnist, Brendan Kelly, rightfully observed is that “anglos and allos are in fact part of our history.”
You wouldn’t know it, though, by watching Quebec movies. We seem to have a problem depicting les autres in this town. Not a deliberate slight, I believe, but more of an inability to paint a true picture. Even Tierney with the best of intentions manages to sometimes miss the mark in his portrayals of allophones and francophones, making them slightly cartoonish in character. The mom in The Trotsky played by Anne-Marie Cadieux, felt less than authentic to me at times (to be fair, the entire movie –which I thoroughly enjoyed- and most of the characters in it were over the top), but kudos to him for at least attempting to encompass all kinds of ethnicities in a Montreal-based film.
It’s an undisputable fact that my reality as an allophone in Montreal is not reflected on screen and to yell at Tierney for pointing that out or to accuse him of Quebec bashing is to be guilty of denial and serious navel gazing. One dare not launch a debate on how things are done here without inciting the anger of those who feel that any criticism –justified or otherwise- is motivated by hate for the French culture and the French language.
It’s an undisputable fact that my reality as an allophone in Montreal is not reflected on screen and to yell at Tierney for pointing that out or to accuse him of Quebec bashing is to be guilty of denial and serious navel gazing. -
Interestingly enough, La Presse columnist Marc Cassivi followed up the controversy the very next day by agreeing with Tierney and admitting to a “voluntary blindness” that exists in Quebec filmmaking. Predictably, he too was attacked by readers telling him that “francophones had a right to exist”, as if that was even ever up for debate.
The problem with living in a linguistic or cultural ghetto (no matter the language) is that it creates a vacuum where only one side, one solitude exists without any understanding, comprehension, respect and empathy for the other. Stereotypes abound in such an atmosphere and lead to a slanted and skewed view of the world.
A Greek friend of mine was recently at a public meeting to voice his concerns over upcoming construction on Parc Avenue, which would affect his business. One of the city councillors present (not from that borough) told him he would pass by his restaurant to discuss his concerns one-on-one. Commendable. Only problem? My friend doesn’t own a restaurant.
Was the assumption deliberate? No, of course not. But it was certainly made by limited contact with other communities. When you don’t get to know, you only know what you think you know. You know?
In the classic movie “Before Sunrise” the female lead Celine played by Julie Delpy says: “If there's any kind of magic in this world it must be in the attempt of understanding someone, sharing something. I know, it's almost impossible to succeed but who cares really? The answer must be in the attempt.”
What is filmmaking, if not that very sacred attempt?
We’re guilty of not seeing each other in this province. Tierney called us on it. Why not take on the challenge instead of bashing the messenger?
