MovieChat Forums > Maurice Richard (2007) Discussion > focus on Quebec?

focus on Quebec?

posted 17 years ago by arie_fr
17 replies | jump to latest

I'm not entirely sure whether anyone else really noticed this all that well, but didn't the film seem to be very Quebec centered?
All the story about how Quebec-based players were treated like second-class citizens while anglos were given extra points left, right and centre; didn't that bother anyone?

Shouldn't this movie have been about the career of a hockey great? Why does the plight of francophone players take centre stage over the amazing playing career and what's left of him now, the records and statistics he left behind?

The second half of this movie is not about Rocket Richard. It's NHL bashing at its finest (although it probably has shown its deserved some over time, who could argue with league developers like Selke and Campbell?).

[–] mchartra 17 years ago

http://www.amazon.com/Maurice-Richard-Original-Version-Subtitles/dp/B000K9JEYY/sr=1-3/qid=1172471076/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/102-3673055-0427352?ie=UTF8&s=dvd

[–] LemmyNothor 17 years ago

<<<<<<<'m not entirely sure whether anyone else really noticed this all that well, but didn't the film seem to be very Quebec centered?
All the story about how Quebec-based players were treated like second-class citizens while anglos were given extra points left, right and centre; didn't that bother anyone? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You bet it did. It bothered every french canadian that lived in that period.
Your question is a little silly isn't it ?
The plight of francophones is exactly what this film is about........and Richard was right smack in the center of it. NOT mentionning it would have been a crime.

[–] tide-4 17 years ago

Isn't that like saying wow, I saw this Jackie Robinson movie and it was all about black people?

[–] LemmyNothor 17 years ago

Not quite. The situation in Quebec was quite different than what it is today. I'm talking mid fifties. There was a system of discrimination in place that was very anti french. I lived a while there. French people wren't permitted to speak french in Montreal stores, even if the customer was french. There was abuse.........the Independant movement took root because of that, don't kid yourself.
Jackie Robinson playing in Montreal will always be a symbol of black struggle. He was the first colored player in the big leagues. try writting a script about Robinson, without mentionning the fact that he was the first.
Or a script about Lindberg that would omit he was the first to cross the Atlantic in a plane.
Now don't get me wrong, I don't like the treatment of the film on the Rocket, but simply because Biname is a boring director. Talking about the french struggle is part of the period.

[–] pantherfan99 16 years ago

I agree with your post I am French-Canadian myself and Americans don't realize that , historically, French-Canadians are the "blacks" of Canada.

[–] Domorugan 17 years ago

Actually it was more about his life during his career. so of course it would be slightly Quebec centered...What he did made a pretty big impact there.

It was, it was his carrer, is home life, and the people impacted by his achievements. As for the question, every one has their own answer.

As for that, well, that's what happened. If they left it out, it wouldn't be accurate about his carrer and what al he has done and what people did and said about him.

That answer some of your questions?

[–] jammer_time 17 years ago

Um... yeah. The move is a bit Quebec centered. Would you rather it was Florida centered?

It's about a Quebec hockey player, living in Quebec, playing hockey in Quebec, and battling against unfair treatment of Francophone's.

[–] mpg138 17 years ago

The francophone Quebecoise do have a huge chip on their shoulders, though. My wife got sick of the small minded thinking in Quebec & moved to the other side of the world.
They're great people, but over sensitive.

[–] cbudlong1 17 years ago

That's a very general statement don't you think. There is a chip on some shoulders which is incredibly annoying, but it happens everywhere. Not just in Quebec. I've lived in three different countries in huge cities and small villages and small minded thinking happens absolutely everywhere.
Just so you know... I don't live in Quebec anymore, I currently live on the Prairies which has it's own brand of small mindedness.

[–] mpg138 17 years ago

Yeah, I s'pose I was being a bit harsh cbud. I'd just returned after a few years away & so was really noticing it.
Point taken.

[–] mayday-4 14 years ago

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"That's a very general statement don't you think. There is a chip on some shoulders which is incredibly annoying, but it happens everywhere. Not just in Quebec. I've lived in three different countries in huge cities and small villages and small minded thinking happens absolutely everywhere.
Just so you know... I don't live in Quebec anymore, I currently live on the Prairies which has it's own brand of small mindedness. "

Yes, small mindedness is everywhere but I havent seen the plans for the Bobby Clarke biopic about the problems face by small town prairie boys trying to make the NHL.

The Jackie Robinson story is an extremly influential and important world changing story...but it doesnt mean i want to see Spike Lee's reverse-racist version of it.

Charles Binamé is the French Spike Lee...and that isn't a compliment.

Everyday I break my own personal record for consecutive days without dying.

[–] sillyhat 11 years ago

"Yes, small mindedness is everywhere but I havent seen the plans for the Bobby Clarke biopic about the problems face by small town prairie boys trying to make the NHL."

Small-town prairie boys, assuming they were English speaking, did not face the kind of discrimination all French Canadians did. It's a fact. There's no point in denying it.

[–] chewtoy45 11 years ago

That's a very general statement don't you think. There is a chip on some shoulders which is incredibly annoying, but it happens everywhere. Not just in Quebec. I've lived in three different countries in huge cities and small villages and small minded thinking happens absolutely everywhere.

Well said, cbudlong1.

"I think I'll have a large order of prognosis negative."

[–] mysaviour666 16 years ago

Maybe this is because it is how it happened and how it was for Quebecers during this period of time.

Are you stupid or what ? this movie is historically true. No wonder why quebecers want to separate from the rest of Canada when they see such ignorance from the people that colonized them and tried to assimilate them.

Shame on you. I like Quebecers

[–] mpg138 15 years ago

Spent much time living in Quebec mysaviour666? Living amongst the franophones, speaking the language?

[–] Unspoken_Request 15 years ago

This is one of the stupidest question I've ever seen on this site. That's what it was back then.

[–] sweiland75 14 years ago

If a movie was made about Darryl Sittler, wouldn't you expect it to be Ontario-centric? I thought so.

http://learnyourdamnhomophones.com/ Learn your damn homophones.