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Archive
29 min
Quebec, 1980

Original music : Harmonium Production : ONF / NFB
French, English
French, English

Arts



Synopsis


This short documentary follows Québec band Harmonium as they tour California in the mid-’70s, in an effort to promote the province as well as to introduce the group to the world’s biggest music market. Here, we follow the ups and downs of the journey of the band, who came to feel the pulse of Americans and see if culture, their culture, can succeed in crossing borders and impose itself?

A word from Tënk


In the fall of 1978, hoping to inform the American press and public about his project for Quebec independence, René Lévesque’s government organized a trip to California to promote Quebec’s culture. Accompanied by the Premier of Quebec and other artists, the band Harmonium, then at the peak of its popularity in Quebec, joined the adventure hoping to break into the American music market. While its California tour may not have been as successful as the band hoped, the resulting documentary from Robert Fortier will charm you with its authentic interviews and the ample space given to Fiori and his band’s music!

 

 

 

Marc St-Pierre
Curator of Collection, National Film Board of Canada

 

 

Item 1 of 4
Item 1 of 4

Item 1 of 4