Legault's Place

Through four moving portraits, A House Divided sheds light on the tragedy of caregiver stress and elder abuse. The abuse takes many forms, ranging from willful neglect and financial exploitation to physical assault. With great sensitivity, this film portrays the emotional complexity of family relationships that can lead to abuse of the elderly, the anguish and isolation of its victims, and the tremendous need for community understanding and support.

Tommy is a veteran of World War II. He rooms alone, waiting for his pension cheque to arrive, passing the time in the evenings with his cronies in the Legion Hall. Lennie can claim only a third of Tommy's years, but he prowls the same area of town, and, surprisingly enough, they have more in common than either of them realizes. Bravery in the Field portrays the frustrations and hostilities of these two men whose lives lack a sense of place and purpose. The story occurs early in November and leads up to an event that provides one of Tommy's few remaining moments of glory: the annual veterans' Remembrance Day parade.

Like today's DJs who re-mix and energize contemporary music, Luc Bourdon has created a virtuoso mosaic of stockshots and clips from 120 NFB films to present Montreal of the '50s and '60s. Documentary, poetry and essay rolled into one, The Memories of Angels is a singular lesson in Montreal history with its famous figures, symbolic places and ordinary citizens. Without a commentary, the film moves from the red light district to Jean Drapeau, the Jacques-Cartier market, department stores downtown, textile factories and the construction of Place Ville-Marie. We meet Geneviève Bujold, Oscar Peterson, Monique Mercure and Igor Stravinsky. We hear Raymond Lévesque, Jean Drapeau and René Lecavalier. A loving tribute to the vitality of Montreal and a joyous experience for all generations.