Anglo Blues

In Blood and Belonging, a documentary on nationalists, written and animated by Michael Ignatieff (broadcasted two years ago on PBS), the Canadian writer of Russian origin described Quebec nationalism as a tribal and ethnocentric movement. His was a particularly caricatured portrait of young nationalists : a group of young men and women meeting at the Deux Pierrots, a so-called symbolism of the Quebec nationalism (!), whose discourse was frighteningly simplistic. The relations between Francophones and Anglophones were described without any subtlety.

Anglo Blues, a documentary by Paul Jay, presented on this week's Les Beaux Dimanches, is closer to reality. In the aftermath of the last referendum, Jay went in search of the soul of Quebec Anglophones and Francophones. Result : couples unable to discuss without pointed remarks, torn families, acid remarks, crisp smiles, unresolved conflicts. In short, a real mess.

The interviews, often very touching, have all been conducted in bilingual milieux, among which the offices of Voir and Hour. Excerpts from a Bowser and Blue show (hilarious), English comics, punctuate the film, as well as an exchange of good will between Josh Freed and the writer-filmmaker Jacques Godbout.

Is it fortuitous that Radio-Canada broadcasts Anglo Blues just a few days after the federal election campaign was announced? Anyway, Paul Jay's documentary does not offer any solution in the conflict opposing the two founding peoples of Quebec. Each side is full of good will, but the more you dig, the more you realize that positions will not change. Help! Sunday, May 4th, Radio-Canada.