After confession, Appearances, Lights, Brittle and soon) Fragments, Serge Boucher dives into the world of Michel Tremblay. The author is preparing the television adaptation of Chronicles of the Plateau Mont-Royal.
Posted at 2:24 p.m.
No network is yet attached to the project, which has just obtained financial support from the institutions. The Society for the Development of Cultural Enterprises (SODEC) has selected Chronicles of the Plateau Mont-Royal via its aid program for the pre-development of television series inspired by literary works. The collaboration of the Canada Media Fund (CMF) is also confirmed.
Chronicles of the Plateau Mont-Royal is carried by Amalga, the production house behind Serge Boucher’s previous drama series.
Reached by telephone, the president of Amalga, André Dupuy, speaks of a “colossal project”. And for good reason. A total of 30 one-hour episodes are planned. “To cover six novels and to do justice to everything that is said there, it is measured”, estimates the producer.
Book published in 2000, Chronicles of the Plateau Mont-Royal puts forward several characters emanating from sisters-in-law. The set brings together six texts by Michel Tremblay released between 1978 and 1997: The fat woman next door is pregnant, Thérèse and Pierrette at the School of Saints-Anges, The Duchess and the Commoner, News from Edward, The first quarter of the moon and An object of beauty.
Michel Tremblay is not actively involved in the adventure, but with Serge Boucher on the screenplay, he knows he is “in good hands”, says André Dupuy. “He is enthusiastic. He knows Serge well. It’s a very natural feeling of confidence. »
A cut ?
At first glance, Serge Boucher ventures into unknown television territory with Chronicles of the Plateau Mont-Royal. And not just because it’s a series with a title that includes more than one word. The author usually offers series steeped in mystery, as evidenced by Lights, Brittle and Company.
André Dupuy recognizes that it is a cut. However, he believes that Chronicles maintains some continuity. “Serge likes to put the family at the center of the stories he tells. Still, there is a relationship. »
Michel Tremblay’s universe has already found its way onto the small screen. We think of Small world of Laura Cadieux, this comedy that Séries+ and TVA presented from 2003 to 2007. For André Dupuy, the durability of Michel Tremblay’s writings is not surprising. “His way of writing has always been a reflection of our society. We can live in 2022, when we understand where we come from, we understand better where we are and why we are there. This is one of the reasons why Michel Tremblay’s work still resonates so well. »
For now, no deadline has been set. Remember that we are expecting soon on ICI Tou.tv Extra Fragments, the new fiction by Serge Boucher, which will tell the reunion, after 40 years of silence, of a group of friends, camped by James Hyndman, Céline Bonnier, René Richard Cyr and Luc Guérin. Directed by Claude Desrosiers, this series of 10 episodes was shot this summer.
With The American bride
Four other titles have received institutional support. Among them, let us point out American Bride, this adaptation project of Éric Dupont’s bestseller, which Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette would direct. The filmmaker is also attached — as a screenwriter, this time — to The futurebased on the book by Catherine Leroux.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette
Finally, the novel Tiohtià : ke by Michel Jean, who recounts Aboriginal homelessness, is the subject of a series project, just like The dividing wall by Catherine Leroux.