"We always want what is good for us," said Rousseau, "but we do not always see what it is." Often it takes the perspective of an outsider for us to see. Steve Guibord is a Member of Parliament from a remote part of Quebec who is suddenly thrust into the spotlight. When it becomes clear that he has the deciding vote in an important issue before Parliament, whether or not Canada will go to war, he is strongly courted by both liberals and conservatives. Steve is hopelessly undecided about how to vote and to make matters worse, his district and household are equally split. Steve's wife and daughter disagree on how he should vote, and his district includes right leaning miners as well as left leaning First Nations and peace protesters. All want their way with Steve, and who does he have to turn to but Souverain, the young Haitian intern he hired five days earlier and only because he was free.
When Steve is responding on camera to the media, Souverain is feeding him quotes from Alexis de Tocqueville, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Montesquieu. Souverain is chided for this. "You've been with me five days," says Steve "there's lots you don't know, and this is REAL LIFE we're dealing with here." Yet there is lots Steve doesn't know about his own system, district, family, friends and himself, and his life may not be as "real" as he thought it was. As Souverain and Rousseau would have it, Steve goes on a "window to democracy" tour to hear what voters have to say about the issue.
The film is a brilliant satire about democracy and how far we drift from the principles we espouse. I enjoyed the film immensely, in part because I love the subject matter. With degrees in law and political science, and experience interning with lobbyists in Congress, I recognize the truths here. Not only is it a witty satire about modern politics, it is also funny and it offers unique perspectives about different cultures, finding balance in the decisions we make and thinking outside the box, among other things. The only drawback is how it is "rough around the edges" and would likely benefit from further monetary support, care and time. Towards the end of the film Steve is asked what he learned. I realized "I know nothing," he says "and that I have a friend." He begins to appreciate what is beautiful around him and that you don't drown just because you fall in the sea. Seen at the Toronto International Film Festival 2015. From the director of the wonderful Monsieur Lazhar.
