This French Language film has been voted by critics as the best Canadian Film of all time at Toronto International Film Festival for three decades in a row. Is it deserving of this praise? Well I have not seen every Canadian film ever made, but I can perfectly believe this praise. This is a masterpiece.
The original title for this movie was Silent Night. This referred both to the story's Christmas setting, but also to the time period it takes place. It refers in part to life in Quebec before The Quiet Revelation. This was not a happy time, and unlike many Christmas films, this is not nostalgic in the least.
This film is directed and Co-written by Claude Jutra, who is one of the most respected Canadian directors, having directed such films as Take it All. He spent a while in France earlier where he worked with such great French directors as François Truffaut and Jean Roach. Truffaut had even produced Jutra's short film Anna la Bonne.
This movie is a great work of art. It is much deeper, more complex, and thought provoking than it's seemingly simple story would have you think. Many critics and audiences still argue about what the film is truly about. Rather than give you a detailed analysis of what this film is about I will rather let you watch it for yourself. I do this not because I don't have my own theory (which I do), but because I think that coming up with your own interpretation, while watching this film will enhance your movie watching experience. Also what has to be mentioned when talking about this film is Michel Brault's excellent cinematography, which is just incredible. This is an art film, so some might be turned off by that, but I recommend giving it a try anyway, because there are much worse things you can do with your life than to watch a great work of art like this.
-Michael J. Ruhland
Resources Used
http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/84416/Mon-Oncle-Antoine/articles.html
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