The Golden Rule
In Malartic, in Abitibi, people are driven away from their land, from the towns they built with their own hands. Then comes the gaping hole, the scar on the Earth: the open-pit mine. And the company is paying for it all with nothing more than the promise of a shining future.
| Director | Nicolas Paquet |
| Share on |
On the eve of the theatrical release of Nicolas Paquet's film Malartic, it's interesting to revisit The Golden Rule, shot in 2011 by the same director, still exploring the fate of the souls and territory of Malartic to this day. Both films capture the movement of intricate social complexities and the displacement of houses that park like cars.
The story of The Golden Rule focuses on power asymmetries between a mining company (Osisko) and the inhabitants of this small town of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. It deliberately maintains an intimate focus on the ruptures and differences of opinion within individuals. The film succeeds in moving us beyond simplistic dualisms and offers us a space of listening and "non-judgment" towards citizens, whether they are critical or not.
On the other hand, as far as I'm concerned, it's impossible to remain neutral in the face of this asymmetrical power that crushes the souls of the territory, closes the door to citizens' questions, doesn't want to be filmed and cultivates the absence of political arbiters. Black Malartic. Black Quebec. Black Canada.
It's impossible not to be affected by this endearing lady from the snack bar, not to be shattered by this sensitive landscaper who sees the earth's crust break and turn to dust. What has become of them?
In the meantime, let's be attentive to our own shortcomings as citizens when we inhabit a zone to be defended.
Sylvie Lapointe
Filmmaker
Presented in collaboration with
-
Français
1h16
Language: Français -
English
1h16
Language: English
- Année 2011
- Pays Quebec
- Durée 76
- Producteur franC doc
- Langue French
- Sous-titres English
- Résumé court In Malartic, Abitibi, 200 families find themselves uprooted to make way for an open-pit mine.
- Ordre 5
On the eve of the theatrical release of Nicolas Paquet's film Malartic, it's interesting to revisit The Golden Rule, shot in 2011 by the same director, still exploring the fate of the souls and territory of Malartic to this day. Both films capture the movement of intricate social complexities and the displacement of houses that park like cars.
The story of The Golden Rule focuses on power asymmetries between a mining company (Osisko) and the inhabitants of this small town of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. It deliberately maintains an intimate focus on the ruptures and differences of opinion within individuals. The film succeeds in moving us beyond simplistic dualisms and offers us a space of listening and "non-judgment" towards citizens, whether they are critical or not.
On the other hand, as far as I'm concerned, it's impossible to remain neutral in the face of this asymmetrical power that crushes the souls of the territory, closes the door to citizens' questions, doesn't want to be filmed and cultivates the absence of political arbiters. Black Malartic. Black Quebec. Black Canada.
It's impossible not to be affected by this endearing lady from the snack bar, not to be shattered by this sensitive landscaper who sees the earth's crust break and turn to dust. What has become of them?
In the meantime, let's be attentive to our own shortcomings as citizens when we inhabit a zone to be defended.
Sylvie Lapointe
Filmmaker
Presented in collaboration with
-
Français
Duration: 1h16Language: Français1h16 -
English
Duration: 1h16Language: English1h16
- Année 2011
- Pays Quebec
- Durée 76
- Producteur franC doc
- Langue French
- Sous-titres English
- Résumé court In Malartic, Abitibi, 200 families find themselves uprooted to make way for an open-pit mine.
- Ordre 5
