Chloé Leriche (Before the streets) went back into the woods for this second feature film produced in collaboration with the Atikamekw of Manawan. This time, it is inspired by a real tragedy which deeply marked the community located a little less than 100 kilometers north of Saint-Michel-des-Saints.
One night in June 1977, a van carrying seven people fell into a river. Only two of the occupants escaped: the two white people. The other five, all Atikamekw, drowned. The Manawan community is absolutely stunned. The authorities are handling the matter in an expeditious manner and without regard for the bereaved families.
What filmmaker Chloé Leriche first shows in her film shot in the Atikamekw language and subtitled in French is the devastating impact of the five deaths on a small community. Its precise staging imposes a particular rhythm and an almost cottony atmosphere. We feel the pain in looking at the village and its people, lost in this pain yet experienced under the magnificent light of the northern sun.
The drama inspired by real events and “the dreams, memories and impressions” of loved ones is partly told from the point of view of Angèle Petitquay (Mirociw Chilton), who was a teenager at the time. Through it, the filmmaker shows the confusion of the adults and the way in which the children seek to make sense of what has just happened. Here and there she creates scenes with fleeting but touching symbolism. Its actresses and actors are all excellent.
Sensitive film about mourning, Atikamekw suns is also a work about solidarity and racism. In the world depicted by Chloé Leriche – and which still very much resembles ours – Indigenous people are little considered. The police are handling the case selflessly and the coroner is expeditious. He does not even take the trouble to point out that some bodies bear marks of injuries incompatible with a road accident… The violence of this indifference adds to the pain of those close to him.
The only apparently solid man among the mourners, Marcel (Jacques Newashish) tries to get a serious investigation to take place to clarify the circumstances of this accident, which is suspicious at best. His quest reveals the unfair treatment long reserved for Indigenous people here. We come away from this film both harsh and poetic, deeply shocked by this denial of justice and with our eyes more open to the reality of neighbors whom we still know too little.
Indoors
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Drama
Atikamekw suns
Chloe Leriche
Mirociw Chilton, Wikwasa Newashish-Petiquay, Oshim Ottawa, Jacques Newashish
1:43 a.m.