Louise
- Studio
- National Film Board of Canada
- Distributor
- National Film Board of Canada
Synopsis
Louise is inspired by animator Anita Lebeau's grandmother of Belgian descent. Ninety-six years young and fiercely independent, Louise lives on her own near Bruxelles, a town in rural Manitoba.
Sometimes she starts her Saturday on Friday- especially when she is expecting company. Speaking in her own voice, Louise takes us through a day in her busy life, which includes coping with garden gophers and cupboards that have grown taller. To-do lists start off ambitiously, but they stumble up against least favourite activities. Sometimes Louise's plans miscarry, but her sense of humor is foolproof.
Skilful animation and carefully chosen details draw a picture of a life fully lived. Memories and snapshots from the family album revive a past where Belgian traditions meld with Prairie ways. Music is still a constant within the community, as evidenced by the soundtrack, a mix of old-time music played by various members of Louise's family and the fabled Bruxelles Brass Band.
This big-spirited story warms up the screen. Louise empowers all of us whose road is getting shorter.
Sometimes she starts her Saturday on Friday- especially when she is expecting company. Speaking in her own voice, Louise takes us through a day in her busy life, which includes coping with garden gophers and cupboards that have grown taller. To-do lists start off ambitiously, but they stumble up against least favourite activities. Sometimes Louise's plans miscarry, but her sense of humor is foolproof.
Skilful animation and carefully chosen details draw a picture of a life fully lived. Memories and snapshots from the family album revive a past where Belgian traditions meld with Prairie ways. Music is still a constant within the community, as evidenced by the soundtrack, a mix of old-time music played by various members of Louise's family and the fabled Bruxelles Brass Band.
This big-spirited story warms up the screen. Louise empowers all of us whose road is getting shorter.
Characters
Marie Louise Eugenie Hutlet Marginet, Radio Announcer
Credits
Directing
- Director
- Anita Lebeau
Producing
- Producer
- Michael Scott, Jennifer Torrance
- Executive Producers
- Graydon McCrea, Svend-Erik Eriksen
Voices
- Voice
- Marie Louise Eugenie Hutlet Marginet (Herself), Roger Currie (Radio Announcer)
Music
- Music
- Robert Marginet
Animation
- Animator
- Jason Doll, Anita Lebeau, John Tanasiciuk
Art Department
- Backgrounds
- Anita Lebeau
- Digital Paint and Compositing
- John Tanasiciuk
Editing
- Online Editor
- Denis Pilon
Sound
- Sound Editor
- John Schritt
- Location Sound
- Tony Wytinck
- Sound Mixer
- Serge Boivin
- Foley Artist
- Russ Dyck
Production Management
- Production Supervisor
- Scott Collins
Crew
- Digital Consultation
- Susan Gourley
- Digital Film Recording
- Pierre Landry
- Program Administrator
- Cyndi Forcand
- Thanks to
- Manitoba Arts Council, Winnipeg Arts Advisory Council, Department of Canadian Heritage, Manitoba Society of Independent Animators
- Special Thanks to
- George Godwin, The Community of Bruxelles, Manitoba, The Bruxelles Band, The Belgian Club, Winnipeg, The Louise Marginet family, Alice, Adele, Maggie, Angele
Companies and other credits
- Thanks to: Winnipeg Film Group
- Special Thanks to: Céline and Rey Lebeau
- Special Thanks to: in particular Aunties Mary
- Special Thanks to: Céline and Annette
- Special Thanks to: and Uncles Roland and Robert
Production notes
Drawings on paper with computer rendering.
Anita Lebeau's first film with the National Film Board of Canada.
Marie Louise Eugenie Hutlet Marginet was born in 1903 and died in 2002.
The first Belgians arrived in Manitoba in June 1888 as homesteaders. Most of the settlers took up ranching or dairy farming. Some moved on. Several were lured as far away as the Klondike . After the government homesteads had all been taken, the later Belgian immigrants who came to Bruxelles and St. Alphonse had to purchase land from companies or from the government.
The heavily wooded areas around Bruxelles, St. Alphonse and Swan Lake were a source of income when free land was no longer available. Newcomers quickly found work as farmhands for homesteaders and established farmers. The hard work was alleviated by such pastimes as Flemish card games and music. The Bruxelles Brass Band traces its history back to the first band in 1899. Bowling, a favorite local pastime, was imported from the old country in the 1950s. Today, most Belgian descendants can trace their roots back to the families who first settled in St. Alphonse and Bruxelles over a century ago.
Glossary: chipoteuse: busy-handed; clapotte: a chat.
Original music performed by Robert Marginet.
"Ave Maria" performed by Alberic Marginet and Alice Hacault.
"Mignon" written by Gustave Hutlet (1872-1954); used by permission.
"Gerry's Polka" written by Gerald Desrochers and performed by the Rhythm Rockets (1958).
"The Petite Waltz" arranged and performed by Connie Lebeau.
"The Beaumont Rag" arranged and performed by Robert Marginet.
Images from "Hills of Home: Treasured Memories of Bruxelles" used by permission.
Anita Lebeau's first film with the National Film Board of Canada.
Marie Louise Eugenie Hutlet Marginet was born in 1903 and died in 2002.
The first Belgians arrived in Manitoba in June 1888 as homesteaders. Most of the settlers took up ranching or dairy farming. Some moved on. Several were lured as far away as the Klondike . After the government homesteads had all been taken, the later Belgian immigrants who came to Bruxelles and St. Alphonse had to purchase land from companies or from the government.
The heavily wooded areas around Bruxelles, St. Alphonse and Swan Lake were a source of income when free land was no longer available. Newcomers quickly found work as farmhands for homesteaders and established farmers. The hard work was alleviated by such pastimes as Flemish card games and music. The Bruxelles Brass Band traces its history back to the first band in 1899. Bowling, a favorite local pastime, was imported from the old country in the 1950s. Today, most Belgian descendants can trace their roots back to the families who first settled in St. Alphonse and Bruxelles over a century ago.
Glossary: chipoteuse: busy-handed; clapotte: a chat.
Original music performed by Robert Marginet.
"Ave Maria" performed by Alberic Marginet and Alice Hacault.
"Mignon" written by Gustave Hutlet (1872-1954); used by permission.
"Gerry's Polka" written by Gerald Desrochers and performed by the Rhythm Rockets (1958).
"The Petite Waltz" arranged and performed by Connie Lebeau.
"The Beaumont Rag" arranged and performed by Robert Marginet.
Images from "Hills of Home: Treasured Memories of Bruxelles" used by permission.
Awards
Nominee, Genie, Best Animated Short, Anita Lebeau, Michael Scott and Jennifer Torrance, 2005