Coincidence makes things strange.
Last week we mourned the passing of Michel Côté, a popular film actor AND learned that Radio-Canada is replacing Gala Québec Cinéma with a 90-minute tribute to Québec cinema.
Why am I placing these two pieces of information next to each other?
Because Michel Côté experienced the golden age of Quebec cinema. the good years In the rain of praise from Michel Côté, generations of Quebecers recalled CRAZY, Cruising Bar, Piché: between heaven and earth or Black List with tears in their eyes.
In the week in which we announce the death of Michel Côté, we can only see a certain death of Quebec cinema …
What affective connection?
I shed no tears when we learned that Radio-Canada was canceling the Gala Québec Cinéma (which replaced the Jutras). The Gala formula has had its day. A small environment that “congratulates itself” that does not interest the general public.
When I learned that Karine Vanasse would be hosting a France Beaudoin-produced tribute to Quebec cinema in December, I applauded.
But I still have one question: When Radio-Canada says the program will be “specifically designed to emphasize audiences’ emotional connection with the cinema here, by showing both the films on the program and others in production reflects what’s in the movies,” I wonder if the “emotional bond” is still there.
When we’re told that “there will be images shot behind the scenes and on film sets to show the enthusiasm of artists and people alike for local cinema,” I wonder what enthusiasm we’re talking about. .
Do Quebecers still love their cinema?
Here’s what Cinéac (which compiles Quebec box office data) released in January for comparison 2021-2022.
“The performance of American cinema increased from 71.7% in 2021 to 83.2% in 2022. Quebec cinematography, for its part, saw its share decrease from 12.4% in 2021 to 7.3% in 2022 The December 23 Quebec film is ranked 18th in our annual top 20, grossing $1,755,583.”
I’ll say it again in case it’s not clear. Last year, there was only one Quebec film in the top 20 most-watched films in Quebec. And he’s in 18th place! There are more Quebecers who have watched DC Krypto Super-Chien (DC League of Super Pets) than Quebecers who have watched December 23rd! 2022 has seen some outstanding Quebec movies. “Confessions”, Luc Picard’s masterpiece, is not on the list of the 20 most watched films of the year.
A great dog
I ask you the question: why would you rather watch Krypto (a cartoon about Superman’s dog surrounded by a turtle and a super-powered squirrel fighting Lex Luthor’s guinea pig) over White Dog, the excellent feature film directed by Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette? , which grossed a meager $255,000 at the box office?
What can we do to make Quebecers fall in love with their cinema again, like they did when Michel Côté starred in CRAZY?
