Socioeconomics and Anti-Sovereignist Sentiment in Les bons débarras :: Film Movies Films Essays

Socio sparings and Anti-Sovereignist Sentiment in Les bons dbarrasConsidering the maelstrom of sovereignist sentiment in which late 1970s Qubec politics and society were immersed, it seems almost inevitable that Qubec celluloid emerging during that time should be examined for some evidence of nationalist ideology. Les bons dbarras, tell by Francis Mankiewicz and based on a screenplay by Qubcois novelist Rjean Ducharme, was written in 1977, but first seeing machine theatrical release in 1980. Arriving as it did just as Ren Lvesques Parti Qubcois ascended to power on its promise to hold a referendum on sovereignty-association, Les bons dbarras is as likely a target as any for a nationalist-perspective analysis. The flick demands critical attention for two additional, marginally related reasons. First, it is considered exceptional as one of only a fistful of well received Qubec asks produced during the so-called tax shelter era. Second, it garnered attention nationally, reversing a trend which had seen Canadas film awards and even critical attention enjoin traditionally to poor-quality, big-budget, English-language productions financed by the tax-shelter (Lamphier, 1981). Cumulatively, these detailors make Les bons dbarras an attractive film with which to palisade larger issues of Canada-Qubec relations and ideas of national identity. Ian Lockerbie (1988) endeavours to construct just such an argument. Lockerbie suggests that contempt the lack of any direct reference to nationalist politics in Les bons dbarras, the film presents evidence of a collective identity which penetrates deeper than consciously revealed symbolism, and which manifests itself in individual identities and anxieties (1988 122). The film, Lockerbie claims, offers deep down the cathartic emancipation of individual characters an inexplicit manifestation of Qubec sovereignism. By basing his analysis on such deeply interred subtext, however, I think Lockerbie ignores the films more obv ious employment with contemporary social and sparing conditions. Granted, one inevitably risks a true degree of impudence whenever venturing to assign allegorical meaning to any film as Lockerbie has done. But I would suggest that if Les bons dbarras does in circumstance propose any commentary on Qubec nationalism, it is not sovereignist at all, as Lockerbie presss, but rather offers an admonitory refusal of Qubec ambitions for independence. The goals of the Qubec sovereignism are traditionally idealized, in part, as a shift from the strength historically drawn from the domestic, familial corporation toward strength to be gained in achieving social and economic self-sufficiency deep down Canada. Les bons dbarras, however, presents a confederation whose attempts to attain social integrity and economic self-sufficiency have utterly failed, and whose strength must be launch only in retreat to the domestic sphere.Socioeconomics and Anti-Sovereignist Sentiment in Les bons dbarras Film Movies Films EssaysSocioeconomics and Anti-Sovereignist Sentiment in Les bons dbarrasConsidering the maelstrom of sovereignist sentiment in which late 1970s Qubec politics and society were immersed, it seems almost inevitable that Qubec flick emerging during that time should be examined for some evidence of nationalist ideology. Les bons dbarras, directed by Francis Mankiewicz and based on a screenplay by Qubcois novelist Rjean Ducharme, was written in 1977, but first saw theatrical release in 1980. Arriving as it did just as Ren Lvesques Parti Qubcois ascended to power on its promise to hold a referendum on sovereignty-association, Les bons dbarras is as likely a target as any for a nationalist-perspective analysis. The film demands critical attention for two additional, marginally related reasons. First, it is considered exceptional as one of only a handful of well received Qubec films produced during the so-called tax shelter era. Second, it garnered attention nationall y, reversing a trend which had seen Canadas film awards and even critical attention directed traditionally to poor-quality, big-budget, English-language productions financed by the tax-shelter (Lamphier, 1981). Cumulatively, these factors make Les bons dbarras an attractive film with which to argue larger issues of Canada-Qubec relations and ideas of national identity. Ian Lockerbie (1988) endeavours to construct just such an argument. Lockerbie suggests that notwithstanding the lack of any direct reference to nationalist politics in Les bons dbarras, the film presents evidence of a collective identity which penetrates deeper than consciously revealed symbolism, and which manifests itself in individual identities and anxieties (1988 122). The film, Lockerbie claims, offers within the cathartic emancipation of individual characters an connotative manifestation of Qubec sovereignism. By basing his analysis on such deeply inhumed subtext, however, I think Lockerbie ignores the films more obvious fighting with contemporary social and economic conditions. Granted, one inevitably risks a reliable degree of impudence whenever venturing to assign allegorical meaning to any film as Lockerbie has done. But I would suggest that if Les bons dbarras does in fact propose any commentary on Qubec nationalism, it is not sovereignist at all, as Lockerbie argues, but rather offers an admonitory refusal of Qubec ambitions for independence. The goals of the Qubec sovereignism are traditionally idealized, in part, as a shift from the strength historically drawn from the domestic, familial community toward strength to be gained in achieving social and economic self-sufficiency within Canada. Les bons dbarras, however, presents a community whose attempts to attain social integrity and economic self-sufficiency have utterly failed, and whose strength must be erect only in retreat to the domestic sphere.