Nancy Guerin first worked as a journalist in the United States and settled a few years ago in Quebec, where she made a name for herself as a screenwriter and documentary filmmaker. She dealt with marketing around breast cancer Pink Ribbons, Inc.about the sacrifices that religion imposes on him A sister’s song and the impact of the recession in the United States front line. Since 2019, she has been delving into the Lac-Mégantic tragedy with Philippe Falardeau.
Photo courtesy of Orange Trio
She conducted a thorough investigation to determine the true causes of the accident. The report is as moving as it is rich in pictures and information. The issue still moves her and she hopes to provide answers, administer justice and find possible solutions. Let’s hope the series shakes up our chosen ones enough to finally make real changes.
What frame of mind do we put ourselves in when we approach such a sensitive subject?
Philippe (Falardeau) and I were a good couple. We could always share our feelings. Some days were more difficult and we were overcome with grief. But we still felt that this story needed to be told. Even though it was hard, we didn’t experience these terrible events. I have not lost a child, lover or loved one and hearing the testimonies and seeing the generosity of the people we have met has given us great strength. It’s an honor that the show has been recognized by Canneseries and Hot Docs, but I’m uncomfortable celebrating our art when you just wish it had never happened. People congratulate us, but instead of celebrating, we should make changes and act because tragedies still exist.
Do you have the impression that this is a public inquiry since there was none?
There was a lot of journalistic work with the books, the reports. Survivors who lost loved ones saw that no one was charged. It would be an important step for her to move on with her life. Pascal (Charest), for example, has traveled from Sept-Îles, where he lives, to testify because his daughters are no longer there and nothing has been done about it. This breaks my heart. There are many things that even the people at Mégantic didn’t know until they saw the show.
I’m surprised the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic (MMA) owner agreed to a statement…
We have to give him credit for agreeing to speak to us when no one in the government and agency levels wanted to answer our questions. He is offline. He never wanted anyone to die, but feels he followed all of the guidelines set out by Transport Canada and broke no laws. He may have overlooked certain warnings, but he did as he was told. I think he’s still repentant, but as a businessman, he’s not the one responsible for our safety. On the other hand, one wonders where are our governments whose responsibility it is.
What surprised you the most in your research?
All. The fact that there is no public inquiry decided five days after the tragedy says a lot. Mistakes were made in the standards regarding the brakes because there was only one driver. It was the only thing that could reveal the truth. They say they have invested in security, but no significant changes have been made. In episode 4, our protagonists present solutions that could be tangible.
Have the protagonists seen the series?
Everyone who attended received a link to watch it before we host a community tour in April. We made sure everyone felt supported because there were sacrifices in the space, not just on the show. It was very difficult because I didn’t want people to be traumatized by the presentation of my work. After watching the series, services were available to them because the images are difficult to view. I don’t want to speak for the people at Mégantic, but several people have told me that the series allows them all to be in the same place in terms of what they’ve fallen victim to.
► Lac Mégantic – this is no coincidence : available on the Vrai platform.