For his first original screenplay since Congorama in 2006, director Philippe Falardeau tells the story of Steve Guibord, played by Patrick Huard (Starbuck, Mommy…), an independent member of the Quebec North Parliament, respected locally and attached to his values, who will find himself confronted with a real "Cornelian dilemma".
Indeed, following the tie of votes between the two majority parties, he will have to make a decisive vote alone, namely: should Canada go to war with the Middle East?
A benevolent politician thrown into the throes of power
Guibord's vote will of course be coveted from the highest political sphere and lobbies, each seeking to satisfy its interest and desire for power. This is where the film's stakes are at stake, in the opposition between an unscrupulous executive power and an independent MP, who entered politics for the right reasons. The question that arises is: can we still believe in a politician paved with good intentions, who would be ready to defend his values despite the call of power?
An effective political fable
Even if this vision of politics and democracy may seem naïve at first, it turns out to be treated subtly and the character of Sovereign, the trainee, played with malice by Irdens Exantus, contributes to bring realism. Passionate about political science, and in particular by Rousseau and De Tocqueville, he will guide Steve with intelligence thanks to his sharp knowledge on these subjects and gradually gains importance in decision-making as the film progresses. During their political road trip, Guibord and Souverain will meet pacifists, miners, truck drivers or aboriginal groups claiming their causes.
One immediately perceives that the member feels a deep sympathy for all these people, he makes himself available and knows his riding well because he does not have knowledge of politics. Indeed, as a respected former hockey player, Guibord went into politics to unite all the communities around him and defend their causes as much as possible. This is what makes its strength and the two main protagonists will thus complement each other and develop a complicity based on trust and very strong human values.
A subtly staged dilemma
Moreover, Guibord does not feel the shoulders to make such a decision and his doubts are personified by his intimate sphere. Indeed, his wife and daughter , played respectively by Suzanne Clément (Mommy) and Clémence Dufresne-Deslières, embody with conviction the two choices presented to him and reinforce the idea of an insoluble dilemma. Also, as Philippe Fardeau said in an interview:
"Guibord comes to the following conclusion: the politician always makes enemies and often comes out emptied and bruised from his mandate. »
But then what will be Guibord's final decision? Will he be fooled by the lure of power and money or will he remain faithful to his political line of conduct?
The strength of the film lies in the exchanges between the two main characters themselves but also with the different protagonists and will give rise to completely burlesque and funnily successful scenes. These do not lose the thread of the story for a moment and even intelligently serve the purpose of the film by bringing a freshness and optimism, which are good in these times of ambient cynicism and ever more tense political context…
Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYaXGOgDA6k
