Félix Leclerc, directed by Claude Fournier in 2005 for the Canadian Television is a 4-part mini-series tracing the life of one of Québec's greatest sons. Christian Larsen wrote: "Félix Leclerc is to the Canadian chanson what Trenet was to the French chanson: a revolutionary, a turning point, and a leader."
The film will be of interest to people who are interested in the following subjects:
1. Félix Leclerc (1914-1988), the great French-Canadian songwriter/singer (the subject of the film) 2. Daniel Lavoie, the great French-Canadian songwriter/singer (who plays the title character) 3. The history of Québec in the mid-20th century 4. The history of a francophone chanson in the mid-20th century
The film traces the life of Félix Leclerc, who was discovered in his 30-s by a French impresario Jacques Canetti (Marc Berman), and went on to make a great impact on the history of the chanson both in France and in his native Québec. The director presents Félix's singing career (leaving his literary and theater work mostly aside) against the background of the Québec's liberation movement which was an important part of Félix's life. The film also follows Félix's complicated family life and his late romance and marriage to Gaëtane Morin (Catherine Sénart).
The acting in Félix Leclerc is top quality and despite a somewhat quirky script the film is quite entertaining. One of the film's strengths is the participation of the incomparable Daniel Lavoie who recorded 30 of Leclerc's songs for this film. Québec's beautiful landscapes (especially those of Île d'Orléans beloved by Félix) are another attraction. In fact, these landscapes could be considered another character of this poetic and inspired film.
