Five films to discover the many faces of Québec, explore its heritage, and spark conversations — created for newcomers! Available free of charge!
Synopsis
In Montreal, in Madame Loiseau’s class, newcomers to the country are starting the school year. Whether they are from Syria, Nepal, Afghanistan, or Djibouti, their knowledge of French is limited, if not nonexistent. Guided by a compassionate and dedicated teacher, these adults—who dream of a better life, and some of whom have never been to school before—gradually become acquainted with the culture of their new home.
A word from Tënk
This film is part of our Welcome Films program, which offers newcomers a window into Québec’s past and present. Available to watch for free!
“I speak Vietnamese, French, English, and several Chinese dialects fluently, as well as Mandarin, which we had to learn at school. In the film, I appreciated the focus on human relationships and communication. The teacher paid less attention to phonetics and allowed people to express themselves freely, in their own way, in French. […] When you arrive in a different country, there are customs and things that can be shocking. It’s a cultural shock. There is so much to learn. Having a class like this is an opportunity!”
Thi Dung Ly
Vietnamese, living in Quebec since 1982
If you want to go further
- How many languages do you speak?
- How many years had it been since you had last been in school?
- Have you built relationships with your classmates?
- What have you learned from being surrounded by people from so many different backgrounds?
- What does speaking and understanding French mean to you?
- Do you feel Québécois?
- Do you feel welcomed by Québec society?
Points for reflection
Language is a Love Story is a particularly well-suited film for French-language integration classes or for newcomers, as it offers a reflection of their own experiences. A group screening of the film will undoubtedly open up discussions on a wide range of topics and reveal the place occupied by this pivotal moment in a journey of migration. What does it mean to learn a language?
The film was directed by Andrés Livov, a Québec filmmaker of Argentinian origin who went through the French-language integration process himself. This likely explains the accuracy, gentleness, and remarkable kindness that emerge from his gaze as he portrays his peers in the classroom today.
Madame Loiseau is a deeply compelling character who can also serve as a starting point for discussion. Herself an immigrant, she now finds herself playing the role of a welcoming figure within her host society, demonstrating how Québec is a diverse, plural, and culturally rich society shaped by its many origins. Many Québec newcomers play crucial roles in Québec, and it is essential to highlight this in order to counter the negative narratives about immigration promoted by short-sighted politicians.
Language is a Love Story is a profoundly beautiful film that makes visible the sometimes painful processes of integration and the fragile development of a sense of belonging. Through this lens, Madame Loiseau becomes an almost heroic figure, carrying out, with humility and steadfastness, an extraordinary work of welcome and integration, driven by a humanity that can make all the difference in a person’s journey.
