1. Representations of Immigration in Québécois Filmby
Roland R. Buchta
University of Nebraska Omaha
1st March 2019

2. Representations of Immigration in Québécois Film
You will find out about:
Research Process
Research Results
Learning Outcomes and Conclusions
2018 ACQS Biennial Conference

3. Representations of Immigration in Québécois Film
Research Process
Pertinent topic to modern-day Québec
Strong personal motivation – interest in immigration
Specific focus on:
Clandestins [Eng. Stowaways] (Chouinard & Wadimoff, 1998)
L’ange de goudron [Eng. Tar Angel] (Chouinard, 2001)
Monsieur Lazhar (Falardeau, 2011)

4. Representations of Immigration in Québécois Film
Clandestins [Eng. Stowaways] (Chouinard & Wadimoff, 1998)
Very disturbing, yet touching
Tackles difficulties of immigration head-on
“Chouinard’s films are surely indicative of the kind of sensitive treatment that the theme of cultural diversity will receive from Québécois filmmakers in the years to come” (Ireland & Proulx 61)

5. Representations of Immigration in Québécois Film
L’ange de goudron [Eng. Tar Angel] (Chouinard, 2001)
Demonstrates the struggles of integration
“Since the turn of the millennium more and more films depict protagonists of Arab origins” (Bachand 220)
Heavy critique of the Canadian immigration system

6. Representations of Immigration in Québécois Film
Monsieur Lazhar (Falardeau, 2011)
Example of integrated life
Themes of death, suicide, consolation and acceptance
Coming to terms with the “harsh realities of the world” (Nayman 50)

7. Representations of Immigration in Québécois Film
Research Results
Immigration remains a very open and broad topic
Immigration dynamics
Differences
Similarities
“Many Québécois directors frame the newly arrived immigrant as a viable asset to the Québécois national identity rather than as a burden, impostor, or threat as is the case in Europe and the USA” (Labidi 375)

8. Representations of Immigration in Québécois Film
2018 American Council for Québec Studies Biennial Conference
1-4 November 2018
New Orleans, LA
Opportunity to share the outcome
Critically analyzed by scholars
Amazing learning experience

9. Representations of Immigration in Québécois Film
Thank You
Questions?

10. Representations of Immigration in Québécois Film
Selected Bibliography:
Bachand, Denis. “Cultural Encounters in Québec Cinema. Identity and Otherness in Denis Chouinard's Tar Angel 1.” American Review of Canadian Studies, vol. 43, no. 2, 2013, pp. 218–230.
Chouinard, Denis, director. L’ange de goudron. Max Films Productions, 2001.
Chouinard, Denis, and Wadimoff, Nicolas, directors. Clandestins [Stowaways]. TVA Films, 1997.
Falardeau, Philippe, director. Monsieur Lazhar. Microscope Productions, 2011.
Ireland, Susan, and Patrice J. Proulx. Textualizing the Immigrant Experience in Contemporary Quebec. Praeger, 2004.
Labidi, Imed. “Monsieur Lazhar: The Ideal Immigrant in the Neoliberal Québécois Imagination.” Journal of North African Studies, vol. 20, no. 3, 2015, pp. 374–390.
Moss, Jane. “Representing Montreal's Algerian Immigrants on Stage and Screen.” Québec Studies, vol. 38, 2004, pp. 25–35.
Moss Jane. “Family Films: Québec Style.” American Review of Canadian Studies, vol. 41, no. 2, 2011, pp. 109–116.
Marshall, Bill. Quebec National Cinema. McGill-Queen's University Press, 2001.
Nayman, Adam. “Book Review: Monsieur Lazhar.” Cinéaste, vol. 37, no. 3, 2012, pp. 50–51.