Une bien belle ville

Back then...

Sylvie, Francine, Michel and I met while studying Communication Arts at Loyola. Passionate about cinema and full of hope, we wanted to expose injustices, understand the world and change it. An entire neighbourhood in the area known as “south of the Centre-Sud” was about to be demolished to make way for the Ville-Marie Expressway, the Radio-Canada tower and other developments. For their final project, Sylvie and Francine wanted to document the lives of people affected by the evictions. Michel was the cinematographer. Then the trio asked me to edit the film. Pascal Gélinas lent us his Moviola, which we set up in the apartment. Michel and I were given free rein over the sound editing and the addition of scenes and photographs relating to Saint-Norbert Street.

Une bien belle ville went on to be screened at housing committees and citizens’ assemblies. As an interesting side note, the young activist André Lavallée, who delivers the denunciation speech in the film, went on to become a respected politician. He served for many years as mayor of the Rosemont borough and was one of the people behind BIXI, among other achievements…

At the 1976 Festival populaire de l’image de Montréal, held at Complexe Desjardins, Phyllis Lambert chaired the jury, and our film won first prize! Later, at Francine’s request, Phyllis Lambert agreed to pay for the film stock for Sylvie and Francine’s next film, The Big Sweep.

The era when so many young and not-so-young people firmly believed in great ideals would eventually give way to a period of disillusionment. Sylvie made a magnificent film about this very subject: Chronique d’un temps flou.

Finally, I was fortunate enough to reconnect with Sylvie while working on the production of her last film, Sur les étages, a film that sheds light on the work of nurses. It was a wonderful reunion. Sylvie created important documentaries with great intelligence and sensitivity. Thank you Tënk for this tribute

Jeannine Gagné
Filmmaker