Hochelaga, terre des âmes is Canada’s contender for foreign Oscar

François Girard’s Hochelaga, terre des âmes will represent Canada in the Oscar race for the category of best foreign language film.

The drama, spanning 750 years in the history and prehistory of Montreal all the way back to the Iroquoian village from which the film takes its name, had its world première at the Toronto International Film Festival this month.

“I’m extremely happy,” Girard said, reached via FaceTime in New York from the cellphone of producer Roger Frappier, at the Telefilm press conference for the announcement in Montreal.

“Since we’re talking about languages, it’s important to mention that the film is not just in French but in Mohawk and Algonquin, which are the founding nations of our people and our country,” added Girard, whose previous features include Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould and The Red Violin.

“George Wahiakeron Gilbert, who is responsible for the rebirth of Mohawk in his community, worked very hard on all the Mohawk

I think this film is absolutely contemporary, and that is what it’s about. That’s why we’re very happy to be selected.

you hear in the film.”

Approximately 85 countries choose one film each for consideration in the category. A short list of nine films will be decided upon in December, and the final five nominees named in January. To be considered, a film must have been released between Oct. 1, 2016 and Sept. 30, 2017 and have played for at least one week in a Canadian theatre. (Hochelaga, terre des âmes has been screening since Friday at a cinema in Medicine Hat, Alta., to assure it meets the requirement.)

The category has become a sort of fast track to international attention for Quebec directors in recent years. Denis Villeneuve was nominated in 2010, Philippe Falardeau’s Monsieur Lazhar in 2011 and Kim Nguyen’s Rebelle in 2012. Denys Arcand won the award in 2003 with Les invasions barbares.

This is producer Frappier’s third time representing a film in the category. His previous two trips were with Arcand for Le déclin de l’empire américan, in 1986, and Jésus de Montréal in 1989.

“Our job in the next few months will be to increase the visibility of the film with members of the academy,” said Frappier, who is himself a voting member.

“I can say right now that the film has at least one vote,” he joked, after explaining that he and his team will also be looking to meet with voters for the Golden Globes, generally seen as a ramp-up to the Oscars.

“I feel that this news is really a continuation of the speech of Justin Trudeau at the United Nations, 10 days ago, about reconciliation with First Nations,” Frappier continued.

“I think this film is absolutely contemporary, and that is what it’s about. That’s why we’re very happy to be selected.”

Although he has a busy few months ahead of him, ultimately, Frappier noted, there’s only so much he can do.

“In the end, the movie makes the difference,” he said. “François made a fantastic movie, and if we’re nominated it will depend not only on our (promotional) work, but on the movie.”

Hochelaga, terre des âmes is due in theatres this fall.