R. Roussil, From the Ground Up

Robert Roussil often worked in a deeply physical way, close to the ground, in direct contact with his materials. The choice of the phrase Le cul par terre (“ass on the ground”) as the film’s French title captures his character perfectly: a free, grounded, untamed creator, somewhat outside the mainstream. That is precisely what this documentary seeks to convey.

Far from intellectual or elitist posturing, the expression can also be read as a metaphor for someone who remains humble, close to reality—or even as an artist brought low, overlooked or marginalized despite his immense talent.

The film is an invitation to slow down and encounter an artist whose voice still resonates today. Through the works, words, and traces Robert Roussil left behind, it immerses us in a profoundly human journey shaped by passion, rebellion, and uncompromising creation. You come away with the feeling of having shared an intimate moment with someone genuine and vibrant, and above all, with a renewed desire to rediscover the art around you in a different way. A documentary that does not seek to impress, but to move—and it succeeds with deep sincerity.

Colette Loumède
Documentary Programmer
Rendez-Vous Québec Cinéma