I love our cinema. I say this without any irony. I like the films here because they have great actors, because our productions are full of talent, from arthouse cinema to large-scale productions. But above all because it is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the Quebec imagination and seize THE moment. They are snapshots of our moods.
Published at 1:44 am. Updated at 7:00 a.m.
In the last few days I have seen two films in quick succession that have caused a lot of public discussion and movement. Testament by Denys Arcand and Le temps d’un été by Louise Archambault. Two films that should be watched for completely different reasons. To measure the corrosive impact of the Arcand era and to appreciate Archambault’s sophisticated look at the fringes of society. And for acting in both cases.
I’m not going to criticize any films here. What I want to highlight, what struck me, is the fact that these two great popular successes represent two strong and opposite trends that are very present in our culture, our society, our lives. There are perhaps even two distinctive features of the identity of today’s Quebec: irony and benevolence.
One might think that Arcand or the hipsters at the turn of the 2000s were the inventors of irony made in Quebec. It is not so. The Boomers laughed at the cynics’ jokes, the Xs at RBO’s. This attitude has always existed here. In its strict definition, irony is synonymous with mockery. We make fun by saying the opposite of what we want to express. When it comes to kindness, while some believe it is a dripping feeling that has overwhelmed us during the pandemic, it is more of a benevolent attitude towards others. We will not deny Robert, even if he was little!
PHOTO PROVIDED BY IMMINA FILMS
A scene from the film Le temps d’un été by Louise Archambault
Kindness manifests itself in a thousand ways in popular culture, but let us remember the protective figure of Janette, who always went out of her way to open us collectively and individually to the reality of others, without judgment, with kindness and tolerance. If this isn’t a massive injection of goodwill into modern Quebec, what is? Irony has been practiced for a long time. Let us underline the 20 years of unconventional perspective of the media Urbania, the 24 years of Infoman, and we will understand that the flourishing irony of today does not come from nowhere.
What does kindness look like in 2023? At its best, as in Le temps d’un été, where urban wanderers spend a season in an idyllic mansion in Bas-Saint-Laurent, it’s a mix of supposed good feelings and genuine concern for the well-being of others. In Archambault it is completely measured, never gnangnan or preachy. Its use is perfect.
Because otherwise we no longer count the cultural expressions that bubble over with self-proclaimed goodwill. Shows full of pseudo-emotional outbursts, staged generosity and gratitude control that even appears on reality TV. We revel in the supermarket’s goodwill. Too much of this tempting goodness inevitably leads to weakness, false good feelings, and even withdrawal.
In such a harsh world, irony is an elegant defense, a politeness, one might say. It’s about facing the world, not metal on metal, but with offbeat humor. Let’s think of the hosts of the two autumn talk shows, Marc Labrèche and Martin Matte: two masters of irony, for our happiness. But too much irony can lead to sterile cynicism. Or, in the second degree, so systematic that it essentially amounts to endorsing what should be objected to. The irony of the media often flatters power. One must see how politicians like to rush to these ironic microphones to measure the benefit to their public image.
Why do these two seemingly opposite positions win at the same time? What can we infer from their extravagant and confusing life together? We who appreciated the absurd, here we are full-time friendly AND ironic.
I would argue that our atavistic fear of making mistakes and getting wet causes us to fill ourselves with virtue and benevolence. At the same time, we are REALLY kind, empathetic, touched by others and understanding of their difficulties. The frontal view is too confrontational for us. We flee from hostility, arguments and debates. That’s why second-degree ironic speech is one of the ways we have in Quebec to undermine authority.
These are troubling times. Major changes are underway at all levels. Culture anticipates them, brings them to light. She uses her tools. Kindness so that we do not lose sight of the fact that the best can always happen, even if only in our personal lives. The irony is that the current problems are so complex that they require a flexible weapon to address them.
Irony and kindness. We can make fun of it. But in the end, this cocktail from our country is not so bad to face reality…