Isabelle Langlois has been enchanting us for several years with female characters in search of freedom, who often fight against prejudices. She writes dialogues that reveal realism and humor with a touch of exaggeration and sympathetic boredom. We owe him the series Rumors, Bad karma And let go, all of which were hugely successful both critically and with audiences. This time she goes behind the scenes of politics with a leading candidate, Alix Mongeau, who is learning the hard way and is ready to see her downfall under the public gaze. The candidate is a real bomb to overcome the current political cynicism.
Catherine Chabot (in beige in the middle) plays the role of Alix Mongeau in the series The Candidate. She is surrounded by Lily-Rose Loyer and Noé Lira (right). Photo provided by Bertrand Calmeau
There were many parallels between Alix Mongeau and Ruth Ellen Brosseau. Was she really a source of inspiration?
The premise is what happened to her when the NDP nominated her as its lead candidate and gave her a job she didn't want. But I haven't studied her life or what she learned. Dramatically, I found it delicious. Alix is an extreme character who does not go unnoticed. It stands out in Parliament. In reality she was incompetent, but she has many qualities that she will put at the service of her daughter, her family and which she will put at the service of the population. She will fight prejudices, but also her own. In this role, Catherine (Chabot) breaks through the screen. It's lively, real and combines drama and comedy perfectly.
Little is known about how politics works. What research was necessary to write the series?
Through research, I pursued my own political education. I read all the biographies of Quebec politicians. I found fascinating research from Gérald Godin to Catherine Dorion. I turned to a researcher who is herself the wife of a politician and had access to information that I otherwise would not have had. I spoke to journalists and consultants. For me it was important to understand, for example, party discipline, frustrations, constituency work and the difficulty of combining work and family. I traveled to Quebec to attend Question Time in the National Assembly. I was inspired by the documentary series Our Elected Officials (Télé-Québec) and the Manuel Foglia film that followed Daniel Turp (Dear voters-ONF). I also did a lot of research on landfills. I developed an obsession with oil changes (which is a theme of the series)!
Unlike your other series, these are one-hour episodes, which is a rarity for dramatic comedies. Why did you choose this format?
Originally I wanted to take a break from comedy and color in some sort of sitcom. I said to myself: This will be a tragedy. At worst, I was aiming for a comedy-drama. There were problems. I wanted to play the truth. I never go for punch. I wrote a first episode and my friend's first reaction was to tell me it was funny. In the second episode he said to me: It's funny in Tabarouette!
In your works we often find women liberating themselves. How do you care about them?
I like the idea of performance. I see this as inherent to female evolution. The candidate is a learning story. Valérie (Sophie Cadieux) in Letting Go was recovering from burnout, Esther (Lynda Johnson) in Rumeurs suffered from imposter syndrome. In creation we always say, talk about what you know. I like it when women develop. I love them enough to put some obstacles in their way!
Is that it The candidate is this also a way to transmit messages?
I don't take a cynical viewpoint in my approach. But there is a desire to denounce politics. It makes sense to fight against outdoor landfill! But when I do it, it's through the tape while providing the most touching and funniest story while also being relevant to the topic. What keeps me at the keyboard is always to make the best story possible.
►The candidateTuesday 9 p.m. on ICI Télé