May 3, 2016 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
On May 5, director Simon Rodrigue takes to the road to present his documentary Quand ferme l’usine (When the Mill Closes) in the regions where it was shot, including Miramichi, New Brunswick. The tour will provide a unique opportunity for people to view an uncut version of the doc and learn about Rodrigue’s filmmaking approach, as each screening will be followed by a discussion with the director. Stops are planned in Mauricie (Trois-Rivières and Shawinigan), New Brunswick (Miramichi), Bas-Saint-Laurent (Matane) and Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine (New Richmond and Gaspé).
Driven by his fascination with forestry and the issue of identity associated with it, Rodrigue travelled across Quebec, Ontario and New Brunswick to collect the stories of former mill workers, which form the basis of his documentary. With so many pulp and paper mills closing, what does the future hold for the forestry communities that sprang up and prospered around them?
The NFB is pleased to celebrate Tree and Forest Month by screening Quand ferme l’usine in several of the regions whose stories are explored in the documentary, giving audiences an opportunity to view a film that recounts an important part of their history.
For more information on screenings, consult the documentary’s Facebook page.
About the tour
Mauricie
May 5: Trois-Rivières – Salle Léo-Cloutier, St. Joseph Seminary
May 16: Shawinigan – In conjunction with the Semaine du patrimoine, Maison de la culture Francis-Brisson (Grand-Mère sector)
New Brunswick
May 10: Miramichi – Carrefour Beausoleil
Bas-Saint-Laurent
May 11: Matane – Salle du conseil municipal, presented by the Société d’histoire et de généalogie de Matane
Gaspésie – Îles-de-la-Madeleine
May 12: New Richmond – Salle de spectacles régionale Desjardins de New Richmond
May 13: Gaspé – Salle de spectacle de Gaspé, C.E. Pouliot School
About the film
Quand ferme l’usine (When the Mill Closes) by Simon Rodrigue
Produced at the NFB by Johanne Bergeron and Marie-Anne Raulet, with executive producer Colette Loumède
For decades, the pulp and paper industry was a jewel in the crown of Canada’s economy. Now that the industry is in decline, what does the future hold for the forestry communities that sprang up and prospered around them? Through lucid, inspired interviews with former workers, the film immerses us in the industry’s glorious past and helps us gauge the true impact of mill closings on local populations and land management.
About Simon Rodrigue
Simon Rodrigue is an emerging filmmaker who has developed an interest in the legacy of the forestry industry—largely owing to the fact that both his father and grandfather earned their living working in the forest.
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Associated Links
Page Facebook – Quand ferme l’usine
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