Claude Jutra: An Unfinished Story
( aka Claude Jutra: Portrait sur Film )
Paule Baillargeon, 2002, English and French. Some subtitles, 82 min, colour
with b&w archival footage
Claude
Jutra created some of Canada’s finest films, bringing Quebec and Canadian
cinema into a new era. Always a rebel, Jutra was an avant-garde creator
who rubbed shoulders with the greatest filmmakers of his time (Truffaut,
Cocteau, Rouch) and left behind an extensive collection of films punctuated
by works of genius.
In Claude Jutra: An Unfinished Story, Director Paule Baillargeon sets off in search of the real Claude Jutra, a man who was not only a legendary filmmaker but also a friend. In this intimate portrait, she takes us to the heart of what she calls “the Jutra mystery.” Interviews with greats such as Michel Brault, Bernardo Bertolucci, Genevieve Bujold, and Saul Rubinek shed new light on the complexities of Jutra’s character. An Unfinished Story includes excerpts from many of his greatest works, including A tout prendre, WOW, Kamouraska, and Mon oncle Antoine.
Reviews
"The film tantalizes viewers with clues that hint at a solution
to its mysteries and fades out on the straight-to-the-heart pathos of a
unique life that, as the film's English title--Claude Jutra: An Unfinished
Story--implies, was snuffed out long before it reached its final act. ."
— Maurie Alioff, TAKE ONE.
Screening
Sunday, February 20th, 1pm
Part of a tripple bill with
Total screening time: 3hrs, with a 15min intermisssion.
About the Director
Paule Baillargeon
b 1945, Val d’Or, Quebec.
FILMOGRAPHY (as director)
Anastasie ma chérie (1977)
La cuisine rouge (1979) (co-directed with Frédérique Collin)
Sonia (1986)
Le sexe des étoiles (1993)
Cast and crew
Producers
Anne Frank and André Théberge; NFB: Nicole Lamothe, Yves Bisaillon;
Produced by Production Docu 2 Inc. and Fox-Fire Films Ltd. in co-production
with the NFB.
Writer
Jefferson Lewis
Cinematographer
Michael P. Savoie
Editor
Dominique Sicotte
Music
Yves Laferrière
Links
NFB biography of Baillargeon
with audio interview
