Synopsis
Jacques is 59 years old and has spent his entire career as a salesman in Quebec City. The past few months have been especially challenging for him: mourning the loss of his wife, he finds it difficult to regain his footing. Should he change his life? Change his identity? Amidst a growing political turmoil, the narrator remains hopeful, insisting that Jacques still has reason to hope.
A word from Tënk
Call him Jacques, but remember his full name, made up of forenames so often found in Quebec’s baptismal registers they have, one might say, turned into pastiches of themselves. Who, then, is this ordinary man, described as a mammal with a broken heart by his narrator, if not a reflection of a society yearning for change?
Like its creator, this documentary film sporting philosophical and anthropological undertones, pulls in all directions, unapologetically. Sung excerpts blend with fictional segments, and while poetry and political commentary swap the spotlight, several techniques of mise en abîme, fueled by irony and humor, lurk nearby.
Playful in form, Bernatchez’s work is nonetheless not joyful per se. Rich in melancholic remarks akin to "where is the world heading," captured against the backdrop of national elections, the narrative invites reflection. Hope and despondency — two sides of the same coin?
Jason Todd
Artistic Director
Tënk
