Synopsis
In the port of Matane, there is a ferry, a shrimp factory, a shipyard, dredges, barges and a train that moves forward and backward all the time. Between the modern machines and the very old gestures, there are fishermen, passers-by, travellers. There is this film. Almost without words, almost without music. In balance between the devastating daily life and the sometimes wonderful effects of the salt water.
A word from Tënk
In this third installment of her “Saint Lawrence trilogy,” Matane filmmaker and patron poetess of Quebec’s most famous river, Johanne Fournier blends observational documentary filmmaking with experimental forms to contemplate life in her hometown. The auteur “takes her time” there to capture the city’s singular pace. Without dialogue, music or commentary, she examines the tranquil comings and goings of human activity through a series of majestic and meticulously composed scenescapes: the ferry crossings, the conveyor belt in the shrimp processing plant, merchandise being transported, work on the naval base… While daily life seems to follow the rhythms of the natural world, even the harsh Gaspé winter that imprisons Matane in ice does little to halt the airy gliding of enormous boats on the river. With its magnificent cinematography punctuated by the rhythm of machinery, this enchanting ode to the port’s habitants will leave you smelling a whiff of salt air and feeling the irresistible urge to visit.
Charlotte Selb
Programmer and critic
