Oscar Thiffault + Le roi du drum
At the end of 2021, filmmaker Serge Giguère obtained the highest distinction given to a filmmaker in Quebec. What a great opportunity to rediscover a generous work, marked by the concern for portraiture (Oscar Thiffault), the immediate consideration for social issues (Depuis que le monde est monde; À force de rêver) and a precise, meticulous attention given to what we called the "real". We will present several new copies that we restored, in the presence of the filmmaker.
In the presence of the director
This humorous portrait of the whimsical Oscar Thiffault established Serge Giguère as a unique voice in Quebecois documentaries. Oscar is 75 years old, an almost forgotten legend with a life that tells the story of his people, their poverty and aspirations, and their love of a good time. His music is a cross between traditional and country. The lyrics of his most famous tune Le Rapide-Blanc are innocently scandalous; a sing along tale about lumberjacks who are forced to leave their wives and girlfriends behind, preys to temptation and the seductive words of the stranger who comes a knocking. (Productions du Rapide-Blanc)
Serge Giguère
Resolutely humanist, Serge Giguère’s cinema offers intimate journeys where reality and imagination intertwine to open up the secret dimension that connects us to one another. He was the recipient of the Governor General’s Award (2008) and the Albert-Tessier Award (2021). Starting as an assistant cameraman for master documentarians Pierre Perrault and Arthur Lamothe, he then founded Les films d’aventures sociales du Québec in 1974 with Robert Tremblay and they co-directed three films together, including Belle famille (1978). Giguère then joined forces with Sylvie Van Brabant to create Les Productions du Rapide-Blanc in 1984, where he directed most of his films, including Oscar Thiffault, The King of Drums and My Mother’s Letters. Driven By Dreams (2007) (Special Jury Award Best Canadian Documentary, Hot Docs 2007) along with Finding MacPherson (2015) both earned a Jutra Award for Best Quebec Documentary. Serge Giguère is one of Quebec’s most important documentary filmmakers of the last few decades.
Explore
On our blog (in French)
Il y a plusieurs voies possibles à emprunter pour aborder le cinéma de Serge Giguère. L’une des plus évidentes a trait à la musique et notamment à ces deux films que Giguère réalise entre la fin des années 1980 et le début des années 1990 et que nous avons numérisé, restauré ces derniers mois : Oscar Thiffault et Le roi du drum, consacré au percussionniste et batteur Guy Nadon («le plus grand des mauvais batteurs», affirmera, pince-sans-rire, le jazzman montréalais Vic Vogel).
A warm portrait of two Montreal musicians: Guy Nadon, aka Buddy Poor, legendary drummer and elusive character, and Nelson Symonds, a guitar genious.
Serge Giguère
Resolutely humanist, Serge Giguère’s cinema offers intimate journeys where reality and imagination intertwine to open up the secret dimension that connects us to one another. He was the recipient of the Governor General’s Award (2008) and the Albert-Tessier Award (2021). Starting as an assistant cameraman for master documentarians Pierre Perrault and Arthur Lamothe, he then founded Les films d’aventures sociales du Québec in 1974 with Robert Tremblay and they co-directed three films together, including Belle famille (1978). Giguère then joined forces with Sylvie Van Brabant to create Les Productions du Rapide-Blanc in 1984, where he directed most of his films, including Oscar Thiffault, The King of Drums and My Mother’s Letters. Driven By Dreams (2007) (Special Jury Award Best Canadian Documentary, Hot Docs 2007) along with Finding MacPherson (2015) both earned a Jutra Award for Best Quebec Documentary. Serge Giguère is one of Quebec’s most important documentary filmmakers of the last few decades.
Explore
On our blog (in French)
Il y a plusieurs voies possibles à emprunter pour aborder le cinéma de Serge Giguère. L’une des plus évidentes a trait à la musique et notamment à ces deux films que Giguère réalise entre la fin des années 1980 et le début des années 1990 et que nous avons numérisé, restauré ces derniers mois : Oscar Thiffault et Le roi du drum, consacré au percussionniste et batteur Guy Nadon («le plus grand des mauvais batteurs», affirmera, pince-sans-rire, le jazzman montréalais Vic Vogel).
