The Negro (French: Le Nèg') is a 2002 Canadian drama film, directed by Robert Morin.[1] An examination of racism, the film centres on a police officer in a small Quebec town who is trying to reconstruct, through the conflicting testimony of witnesses and participants, the events of the night before, when the petty vandalism of a woman's lawn jockey escalated within a few hours to the woman being found dead and the young Black Canadian suspected of committing the vandalism having been viciously beaten in a field.[2]
| The Negro | |
|---|---|
| French | Le Nèg |
| Directed by | Robert Morin |
| Written by | Robert Morin |
| Produced by | Lorraine Dufour |
| Starring | Iannicko N'Doua-Légaré Béatrice Picard Robin Aubert Vincent Bilodeau Sandrine Bisson |
| Cinematography | Jean-Pierre St-Louis |
| Edited by | Lorraine Dufour |
| Music by | Bertrand Chénier |
Production companies | Coop Vidéo de Montréal Les Productions 23 |
| Distributed by | Christal Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | Quebec French |
The film's original title, equivalent in Quebec French to "the nigger", was controversial, with a Black youth group in Montreal demanding that the film's title and promotional poster be changed.[3] Morin, however, defended his choice to use a controversial title, stating that "If it stirs up some controversy, then at least people will be talking about racism."[1]
The film's cast includes Iannicko N'Doua-Légaré, Béatrice Picard, Robin Aubert, Vincent Bilodeau, Emmanuel Bilodeau, Sandrine Bisson, René-Daniel Dubois, Jean-Guy Bouchard and Dorothée Berryman.
Awards
editThe film was named to the Toronto International Film Festival's year-end Canada's Top Ten list for 2002.[4]
The film received four Genie Award nominations at the 23rd Genie Awards in 2003: Best Original Screenplay (Morin), Best Costume Design (Sophie Lefebvre), Best Editing (George Browne and Lorraine Dufour) and Best Art Direction or Production Design (André-Line Beauparlant).[5]
The film received three Prix Jutra nominations, for Best Direction (Morin), Best Screenplay (Morin) and Best Editing (Dufour).[6] Dufour won the award for Best Editing.
References
edit- ^ a b "Le Neg' shows up bigots: Morin's work is tough, personal". Montreal Gazette, October 21, 2002.
- ^ "Le Neg' beautiful mess of a movie". Edmonton Journal, March 10, 2003.
- ^ "Montreal film, Le Neg, stirs up controversy about racism, bigots". Canadian Press, October 21, 2002.
- ^ "Lots to love in Canada's films: Judges select country's top 10". Vancouver Sun, January 22, 2003.
- ^ "Ararat leads but Egoyan left out". The Globe and Mail, December 11, 2002.
- ^ "Seraphin leads with 9 Jutra nominations". Montreal Gazette, January 29, 2003.