Gratien Gélinas - Un géant aux pieds d'argile

Using archival films, popular songs of the time and testimonials, evocation of the economic crisis of the 1930s as experienced by the people of Quebec

Maxime is a young Valdorian who works in a gold mine. As he experiences several difficulties as he goes through life, he will question his definition of masculinity. It's with the help of the tightly knit brotherhood of colleagues in the mine that he will find the necessary support to overcome a feeling of stubborn guilt which prevents him from achieving happiness. Until the day an explosion breaks out underground. As part of the rescue mission, Maxime descends into the mine lair with the firm intention of bringing each of his colleagues back to the surface alive.

A cook in his heyday, Camilo is now a worn-out fifty-year-old who works for a cleaning company. We can guess a personal failure in the past of this solitary Mexican living in Montreal. However, Camilo wants to get back on track and an opportunity to recover his culinary passion finally presents itself. Everything is in place for this new beginning when Camilo receives a visit from his daughter Tania, with whom he had cut ties because of her drug addiction. She tells him that he is a grandfather and asks him to take care of the child while she undergoes her umpteenth rehab. The arrival of this grandson will upset Camilo’s plans. There will be a new beginning for him, certainly, but not as he imagined it.

A group of youths open an organic restaurant.