Babine

I went to see the movie last night at my local theater. I was very pleasantly surprised. Fred Pellerin, the writer and narrator of the movie, has been able to weave an extraordinary tale, a bit like Tim Burton's Big Fish. For people outside the Province of Québec, Fred Pellerin is a storyteller, much in the vein of Jim Henson's Storyteller, but with all the energy of Robin Williams when he's on stage, and twisting words to give them new meanings. Thankfully, he tones down his enthusiasm here, to let the characters come to life.

It tells the story of a town idiot in the village of Saint-Élie-de-Caxton. From his birth to his death, his life is divided in chapters where we see how being a simpleton born of a single woman considered a witch in a small village can cause all sorts of trouble.

Luc Picard, who plays Toussaint Brodeur, does a good job at directing the movie. The effects are pretty good, considering the low budget, and all the actors give a good performance, especially Vincent-Guillaume Otis in the lead role.

The only downside for anyone who doesn't speak French, or who isn't familiar with Québécois, will be the difficulty to understand some expressions, especially since they have been twisted to give them new meaning.