Testament

Jean-Michel Bouchard is a retired archivist living in a retirement home. On the wall of the home there is a large mural showing the arrival of the French in Canada. A group of young people turns up at the door saying the mural glorifies colonialism and demanding it be taken down. Nobody knows what to do. Jean-Michel does not understand what is happening at first, and then does not insist on understanding. Denys Arcand's film makes comic material out of today's arguments: identity, representation, what to do with history, in whose name anyone speaks. The director does not hide which side he is on and mostly makes the protesters look ridiculous. The film drew a divided reaction in Canada for that reason: some took it as a satire with its finger on the pulse, others read it as an old man complaining. Rémy Girard has the lead. It continues the tone of Arcand's long career.