Diary of a Father

A CHILDHOOD. A NEIGHBORHOOD. AN ODE TO LIFE One-of-a-kind autobiography narrated and filmed with great sensibility and beauty. Its exceptional cinematic quality offers a visual treat to a Quebec rarely seen before. This poetic take on childhood memory transcends simple nostalgia for a sincere celebration of life. Claude Demers returns to the working-class district of Montréal where he grew up, and immediately wonders: Why? The rest of Where I'm From forms the answer. Demers tries to relive all the experiences he had for the first time as a child, or at least understand them: the first novel he read and the power of language. His first awareness of death. The question of what is normal and what isn’t. The idea of wanting to leave, of having to leave.

During a heat wave in Montreal, Tom, 11, meets Édith, who’s the same age. He soon discovers that Édith has a terrible secret.

Toby is a teenager who doesn't care much about school. In fact, he has his eyes on the title of a prestigious dog-sleigh race. He will have to undergo extensive training in order to win it.

Danny is a young man looking for love, and believes becoming a model is the peak of success. He eventually becomes a stripper and learns how that affects his quest for love.

In the 1960s, young women fainted during the shows of Quebec crooner Michel Louvain, who has been a heartthrob for 52 years. "Ladies in Blue" takes an affectionate look at the everyday lives of five women of different ages and walks of life who idolize the singer. While reflecting on Louvain's enduring career and celebrity, the film examines the universal lure of the unattainable that lies deep within each of us.

Filmmaker Claude Demers tells the story of his search for his biological mother and their eventual meeting. He does this in voice-over, accompanied by images from Canada's national archives. The painstakingly selected and fluidly edited black-and-white clips build up, like the perfectly fitting pieces of a puzzle; an impression of his mother as he had imagined her. How she grew up, worked, loved and left him.

"Barbers - A Men's Story" takes us into barbershops, a haven where men can talk freely among themselves. The film features barbers who describe their love and passion for their work. These endearing and dedicated men, who have been their customers' trusted confidants for decades, are approaching the twilight of their careers in a trade that is slowly dying out.

On August 26th, 2010, fourteen filmmakers followed multiple stories in the Montreal neighbourhood of St-Henri. The result is a touching, funny and fascinating day-in-the-life of this eclectic community.