This harrowing feature is typical of Robert Morin's dark, pessimistic views on crime, punishment and human suffering. A young black man is caught smashing a racist lawn ornament in rural Quebec, and terrible events ensue. The film offers a highly stylized take on rural racism, poverty and cultural dispossession, taking its colour palette from the brightly coloured ornaments at the heart of story. The film's Roshomon-inspired retelling of the night's crimes depends for its success on the acting of some of the greats of Quebec television and theatre, in particular Béatrice Picard (Cédulie) and Emmanuel Bilodeau (Canarde Plourde).

Robert Morin (b. 1949)

Robert Morin is the director of many films, including most recently Journal d’un coopérant (Diary of an Aid Worker, 2010); Papa à la chasse aux lagopèdes (Daddy Goes Ptarmigan Hunting, 2008); Que Dieu bénisse l’Amérique (May God Bless America, 2006); Windigo (1994); and Requiem pour un beau sans-coeur (Requiem for a Handsome Bastard, 1992), which won Best Canadian Feature at the Toronto International Film Festival. He is also one of founders of La Coopérative de Production Vidéo de Montréal.