Synopsis
The testamentary cry of a minority culture in the face of the hegemonic steamroller, or, doubt is a benevolent devil. In his hometown of Fauquier, Northern Ontario, poet Pierre Albert organizes a grand celebration to mark the foretold demise of the last Franco-Ontarian. A hybrid and eclectic project reflecting its subject, this imaginary documentary is a passionate tribute to a people and their culture.
A word from Tënk
Inspired by the collection of writings by Pierre Albert, The Last of the Franco-Ontarians by director Jean Marc Larivière is a blend of documentary, fiction, poetry, and dance.
The last Franco-Ontarian doesn’t know he is the last of his culture. The last one questions himself, consumed by doubt—“a doubt plunging into the abyss of emptiness.” The last one organizes a final show for “a culture that might disappear in complete indifference.” Will there be an audience? Should one participate in a spectacle about their own disappearance? The villagers are divided.
Paradoxically, this film about the disappearance of a culture features a significant generation of Franco-Ontarian artists: Marcel Aymar (the specter), Roch Castonguay (Nino the clown), Patrice Desbiens, Robert Marinier, Robert Dickson, and Paulette Gagnon, who plays the last one’s ex-wife.
The film showcases the mines and forests of Northern Ontario—landscapes rarely highlighted by a cinematography that typically seeks beauty elsewhere. A meticulous sound design complements occasionally striking imagery.
The Last of the Franco-Ontarians offers a reflection on the role of minority cultures and how they continue to cultivate the imagination to carve out a space, against all odds.
Lisa Fitzgibbons
Filmmaker
