Language is a Love Story
In Montreal, in Madame Loiseau’s class, newcomers to the country are starting the school year. Whether they are from Syria, Nepal, Afghanistan, or Djibouti, their knowledge of French is limited, if not nonexistent. Guided by a compassionate and dedicated teacher, these adults—who dream of a better life, and some of whom have never been to school before—gradually become acquainted with the culture of their new home.
| Director | Andrés Livov |
| Actor | Hubert Sabino-Brunette |
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This documentary takes us into Ms. Loiseau’s French language class. A dedicated and endearing teacher of Haitian origin, she becomes a true gateway for these immigrants into a mixed Quebec society, rich in its differences. A model of emancipation and respect, she guides them with warmth. In this near claustrophobic setting, the camera focuses closely on faces, revealing a wide range of emotions—from joy and pride to doubt, disappointment, and anger. Filled with tenderness, this closeness to the protagonists fosters a sense of attachment and admiration for the magnitude of the arduous task that is learning a new language as an adult.
The film touches on interesting fragments of reflection regarding these immigrants' sense of belonging (or exclusion) to Quebec culture, as well as the place of women in society. However, filmmaker Andrés Livov chooses to focus instead on what brings this diverse group together: the sometimes moving solidarity that emerges within this community of multiple roots. Language is a Love Story thus bears witness to the courage of those who have left their countries, who are trying to rebuild their lives on new foundations, and who hope to contribute to their host society with their unique life experiences.
Hubert Sabino-Brunette
Programmer and teacher
- Année 2019
- Pays Québec
- Durée 89
- Producteur Les Films de l'Autre
- Langue French
- Sous-titres English
- Résumé court A classroom like no other: Madame Loiseau’s, where she teaches French to adult newcomers.
- Capsule film <p>Ce film s'inscrit dans notre programmation <a href="https://www.tenk.ca/fr/parcours/v2/accueillance"><span style="color:#008080;"><em><u><strong>Films d'accueil</strong></u></em></span></a> proposant une fenêtre ouverte sur le Québec d’aujourd’hui et d’hier pour les nouveaux·elles arrivant·e·s. Offert en accès!</p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:26px;"><strong>L'avis de Thi Dung Ly</strong></span><br /> Vietnamienne, au Québec depuis 1982<br /> <br /> <iframe frameborder="0" height="360" scrolling="no" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1179633324?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" width="640"></iframe></p> <p> </p> <p>« Je parle couramment le vietnamien, le français, l’anglais et quelques dialectes chinois, plus le mandarin qu’il fallait apprendre à l’école. Dans le film, j’ai aimé le côté relations humaines, communication. La professeure s’occupait moins de la phonétique. Elle laissait les gens s'exprimer librement, à leur façon, en français. [...] Quand on arrive dans un pays différent, il y a des moeurs et des choses qui choquent. C'est le choc culturel. Il y a beaucoup de choses à apprendre. Avoir un cours comme ça, c’est une chance! »<br /> </p> <p style="text-align: right;">Thi Dung Ly<br /> </p>
This documentary takes us into Ms. Loiseau’s French language class. A dedicated and endearing teacher of Haitian origin, she becomes a true gateway for these immigrants into a mixed Quebec society, rich in its differences. A model of emancipation and respect, she guides them with warmth. In this near claustrophobic setting, the camera focuses closely on faces, revealing a wide range of emotions—from joy and pride to doubt, disappointment, and anger. Filled with tenderness, this closeness to the protagonists fosters a sense of attachment and admiration for the magnitude of the arduous task that is learning a new language as an adult.
The film touches on interesting fragments of reflection regarding these immigrants' sense of belonging (or exclusion) to Quebec culture, as well as the place of women in society. However, filmmaker Andrés Livov chooses to focus instead on what brings this diverse group together: the sometimes moving solidarity that emerges within this community of multiple roots. Language is a Love Story thus bears witness to the courage of those who have left their countries, who are trying to rebuild their lives on new foundations, and who hope to contribute to their host society with their unique life experiences.
Hubert Sabino-Brunette
Programmer and teacher
- Année 2019
- Pays Québec
- Durée 89
- Producteur Les Films de l'Autre
- Langue French
- Sous-titres English
- Résumé court A classroom like no other: Madame Loiseau’s, where she teaches French to adult newcomers.
- Capsule film <p>Ce film s'inscrit dans notre programmation <a href="https://www.tenk.ca/fr/parcours/v2/accueillance"><span style="color:#008080;"><em><u><strong>Films d'accueil</strong></u></em></span></a> proposant une fenêtre ouverte sur le Québec d’aujourd’hui et d’hier pour les nouveaux·elles arrivant·e·s. Offert en accès!</p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:26px;"><strong>L'avis de Thi Dung Ly</strong></span><br /> Vietnamienne, au Québec depuis 1982<br /> <br /> <iframe frameborder="0" height="360" scrolling="no" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1179633324?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" width="640"></iframe></p> <p> </p> <p>« Je parle couramment le vietnamien, le français, l’anglais et quelques dialectes chinois, plus le mandarin qu’il fallait apprendre à l’école. Dans le film, j’ai aimé le côté relations humaines, communication. La professeure s’occupait moins de la phonétique. Elle laissait les gens s'exprimer librement, à leur façon, en français. [...] Quand on arrive dans un pays différent, il y a des moeurs et des choses qui choquent. C'est le choc culturel. Il y a beaucoup de choses à apprendre. Avoir un cours comme ça, c’est une chance! »<br /> </p> <p style="text-align: right;">Thi Dung Ly<br /> </p>
