Old Age and Hope

I had the opportunity to conduct research for Fernand Dansereau on his recent films: L’érotisme et le vieil âge (2017), Le vieil âge et l'espérance (2019), and Joie, which will likely be titled À la lumière du soir (In the Evening Light) and is set to be released soon.

I first met Fernand Dansereau in the film industry of the 1970s, and I already admired his way of thinking and his deep interest in people. Watching Le vieil âge et l’espérance again, I am once more struck by the tenderness and emotion of the film; the stunning images captured by Julien Fontaine (the water, the forests, the orchard, and especially the people); the precise and attentive sound design by Stéphane Barsalou; the warmth and human touch of production manager Sylvie Lapointe; the discreet yet creative presence of musician Francine Beaudry; and, of course, Dominique Sicotte’s meticulous dedication in editing, pouring all her heart and skill into it.

All of this is brought to life by Fernand’s empathy, his thirst for understanding people, and—above all—by his capacity to listen with openness and respect to ideas that differ from his own. It continues to amaze me.

I loved doing research for Fernand, but what I cherished most were our long conversations where I learned so much. “Life is desire,” as the film suggests. It is also about peace and serenity, at its best. But for me, it is mainly about continuing to learn and discover, and I owe much of that to Fernand in recent years. Thank you, Fernand!

Lucette Lupien
Researcher