SYNOPSIS
Ten years after the opening of the huge Malartic open-pit gold mine, the expected economic miracle has become a mirage. At first glance, prosperity hasn't reached Main Street, and statistics show that no demographic gains have been made. How is the population faring? Noting the glaring discrepancy between the town's decline and the mining company's wealth, director Nicolas Paquet reveals the inner workings of an opaque decision-making system in which the citizenry has no say. Part anthropological study, part investigation into the heart of power, Malartic raises the universal question of democratic land management, offering a powerful insight into a community deeply wounded by its "tenant".
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DETAILS
DIRECTOR
Nicolas Paquet
SEE COMPLETE PROFILEThe independent filmmaker Nicolas Paquet produced in 2011 his first feature-length documentary – La règle d’or. This was followed by the feature Ceux comme la terre and the short Les sucriers, presented at numerous festivals in Canada and abroad. In 2017, he launched Esprit de cantine, selected for the Rencontres internationales du documentaire. The film was shot in his home village of Saint-Alexandre de Kamouraska. His most recent film, Chef.fe.s de brousse, reveals the struggles of three chefs who propose a cuisine that is rooted in the land. His creations document rural realities with authenticity, safeguarding a speaking space for the resistance of today.
