A real race against time, the Daigle versus Tremblay case, brought to life by Alexis Durant-Brault in the series “Disobey: Chantale Daigle’s choiceis captivating and all the more reasoning given the current socio-political context.
The image in the credits of the bird freeing itself from its cage, like a canary at the bottom of the mine, is strong and enunciates the sequel. At almost 18 weeks of pregnancy, Chantale Daigle (Éléonore Loiselle) has to leave Chibougamau to have an abortion in Sherbrooke, but her ex Jean-Guy Tremblay (Antoine Pilon), a jealous, manipulative being with a deficient personality, manages to obtain a court injunction to prevent it.
Unfolding at a good pace through skilful back and forth in 1988, the year of the honeymoon during which Chantale fell in love with the handsome Jean-Guy, and December 1989, the miniseries in six one-hour episodes stands out by the solidity of its distribution and the quality of its realization. Alexis Durand-Brault shows great sensitivity to the subject and manages to brilliantly recreate the era without falling into the “cheesy”. Éléonore Loiselle offers a high-level performance, while Antoine Pilon manages to give Jean-Guy Tremblay a humanity and a color that is quite interesting to watch.
The attention paid to facts and details is remarkable, whether in the sets, costumes and hairstyles, or in the verve, expressions and references of the time, notably to Lady Di, Samantha Fox or Radio Shack. Daniel Thibault and Isabelle Pelletier, who signed the texts, also had at their disposal a great deal of material on which to base themselves: dockets, archives, numerous interviews granted by the main actors in the affair, as well as the books that they each wrote to tell their version of the facts.
In the summer of 1989, what everyone believes to be a couple’s fight in the public square turns out to be a much deeper battle: the 21-year-old defends the sovereignty of her body. She will unwittingly change the course of history, Canadian justice and women’s rights.
Little equipped to face this storm, Chantale can fortunately count on the community of activists who will join her along the way and on the undisputed support of her family. The Daigle clan is united, united and devoted to the “chip”. Mario (Alex Bergeron), Michel (Joakim Robillard) and Marjolaine (Juliette Gosselin), her brothers and sister, understand that her relationship with Jean-Guy is unhealthy and support her in her decision to end it.
The inexperienced Me Bédard (Éric Robidoux), a legal aid lawyer established in Val-d’Or, will obtain his client’s full confidence despite repeated failures. He will defend her against the renowned Montreal lawyers played by Patrick Hivon and Jean-François Pichette.
“It’s not just the story of a woman, and it’s not just for women this ‘show’, it’s for human beings, it’s for human freedom”, a argues director Alexis Durant-Brault, Tuesday in press viewing, highlighting “the failure of the Quebec judiciary on three occasions and the instrumentalization of Jean-Guy Tremblay” to promote the arguments of pro-lifers.
“Chantale Daigle was never there for the spotlight. She did what she had to do and then she went back to her land. In the media, we never heard of it again, ”recalled producer Sophie Laurin, insisting on the noble side of the character.
After this highly publicized affair, she started a new life, had four children and would live under a new identity. It is also through activists who have kept in touch with her that the producer would have obtained her agreement for the series.
Episodes of “Disobeir: Chantale Daigle’s Choice” will drop by drop on Crave, one a week. The first episode is available since Wednesday.
The series also stars Sylvie Dubé and Denis Trudel, Rachel Gratton, Julie Trépanier, Andréanne Théberge, Émilie Bibeau and Marie-Claude St-Laurent.
“Chantale Daigle’s choice” at Series Mania
“Disobeir: Chantale Daigle’s choice” was selected for the major international festival Series Mania, devoted to television series from around the world. This is the only Quebec fiction to have been selected this year as part of the international Panorama section.
“The Chantale Daigle affair” told by real people
In a few weeks, Crave will offer the documentary “The Chantale Daigle affair”, carried by journalist Noémi Mercier.
The documentary will notably reveal never-before-seen moments in Chantale Daigle’s race against time through numerous archival images and interviews with the real people who have gravitated to this story; the nucleus of women who formed around Chantale Daigle, the activists who helped her in the termination of pregnancy, a Supreme Court judge, as well as the lawyers and doctors who participated directly or indirectly .
“The Chantale Daigle affair: the documentary” directed by Gaëlle D’Ynglemare, who had the original idea for the fiction, will be available at the same time as the last episode of the series.