Les raquetteurs

A spectacular 1964 film that dramatically depicts hockey - the national sport of French Canadians. Seen "from the inside," this seemingly simple game turns out to be not so simple: it is nothing short of a dream of mythic proportions that mirrors the aspirations of an entire people whose heroes are national figures! There is total symbiosis at the Montreal Forum between the crowd and the Habs. 1955: Idol Maurice Richard has just been suspended for striking a referee. The people take to the streets in unison and the riots begin...

In both amateur and professional sports, being gay remains taboo. Few dare to come out of the closet for fear of being stigmatized, and for many, the pressure to perform is compounded by a further strain: whether or not to affirm their sexual identity. Breaking the code of silence that prevails on the field, on the ice and in the locker room, this film takes a fresh and often moving look at some of our gay athletes, who share their experiences with the camera. They've set out to overcome prejudice in the hopes of changing things for the athletes of tomorrow.

Ce film capte, avec grande authenticité, les rites festivaliers entourant un congrès annuel de raquetteurs à Sherbrooke, à la fin des années 50. Spontané, il instaure un nouveau rapport au réel et présage de la démarche de la toute nouvelle équipe française de l'ONF. Le film Les raquetteurs est considéré aujourd'hui comme le précurseur de cinéma direct.