Living Like the Land

Nicolas has once again called on my judgment and collaboration for his second feature film. I remember Nicolas, at the end of The Golden Rule, his first feature film, saying to me: "Natacha, I'd like to edit my next film close to home." Here I am, two or three years later, in Rivière-du-Loup, settled into a beautiful old house, with an editing room on the first floor and a bedroom upstairs, for a trip.

A twofold change of scenery, as I spent my days, through images, in the Northwest Territories, in Łutselk'e. I was discovering a territory, a culture, a community; the Dene. Through editing this film, I learned about the struggles, treaties, sad stories, resilience, and humor of a new generation of people claiming their attachment and deep ties to their land. A long-term respect and reflection that should give us food for thought and serve as a model. An experience that opened my eyes to a reality that was foreign to me at the time. Gentle, respectful, just like the Dene I met.

A little shared pride... At the premiere, cinematographer Francois Vincelette told me how much he'd appreciated the way I'd sought out and enhanced shots he'd stolen, without any precise function, between two actions to be shot. It stayed with me, and I've always tried to carry this good habit into my editing.

Natacha Dufaux
Editor