Le roi du drum

It is the story of a young boy from Montreal’s East End who bangs on tin cans with chair rungs and becomes so fast that he turns it into a profession: drummer. Whenever Serge Giguère turns his camera toward another human being, we know we are about to develop a genuine and unmistakable affection for the person at the heart of his film. His portrait of Guy Nadon is a wonderful example.

Much like his 1986 documentary about Le Rapide blanc singer Oscar Thiffault, Serge Giguère introduces us to a man driven by dreams, a passion for music, and humility. The humility of those blessed with extraordinary talent who still take the bus to the hardware store.

Throughout the film, we feel the presence of the little boy Ti-Guy Nadon once was—and, in many ways, still is. We find him in Giguère's whimsical, poetic, and deeply endearing mise en scène; in the return to the places that shaped Guy Nadon's childhood; and in every moment that reveals his infectious sense of humour. For any number of reasons, he may never have reached the heights attained by others with the same passion and remarkable gifts, but he possesses the rare grace of having remained true to himself.

Shot on film, the documentary draws its visual richness from Giguère's fluid cinematography while beautifully capturing the singular character of "Guy-la-canisse". I challenge anyone to resist the wave of tenderness and delight inspired by this documentary from Serge Giguère, who once again pays tribute to life's little people—the true giants of this world.

 

Christine Chevarie
Filmmaker