The film

Imagine an angel who memorized all the sights and sounds of a city. Imagine them coming to life: busy streets full of people and vehicles, activity at the port, children playing in yards and lanes, lovers kissing in leafy parks. Then recall the musical accompaniment of the past: Charles Trenet, Raymond Lévesque, Dominique Michel, Paul Anka, Willie Lamothe. Groove to an Oscar Peterson boogie. Dream to the Symphony of Psalms by Stravinsky. That city is Montreal. That angel guarding the sights and sounds is the National Film Board of Canada. The combined result is The Memories of Angels, Luc Bourdon’s virtuoso assembly of clips from 120 NFB films of the ’50s and ’60s. The Memories of Angels will charm audiences of all ages. It’s a journey in time, a visit to the varied corners of Montreal, a tribute to the vitality of the city and a wonderful cinematic adventure. It recalls Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire in which angels flew over and watched the citizens of Berlin. It has the same sense of ubiquity, the same flexibility, the sense of dreamlike freedom allowing us to fly from Place VilleMarie under construction to the workers in a textile factory or firemen at work. Underpinning the film is Stravinsky’s music, representing love, hope and faith. A firefighter has died. The  funeral procession makes its way up St. Laurent Boulevard. The Laudate Dominum of the 20th century’s greatest composer pays tribute to him.

Without commentary, didacticism or ostentation, the film is a history lesson of the last century: the red light district, the eloquent Jean Drapeau, the young Queen Elizabeth greeting the crowd and Tex Lecor shouting “Aux armes Québécois !” Here are kids dreaming of hockey glory, here’s the Jacques-Cartier market bursting with fresh produce, and the department stores downtown thronged with Christmas shoppers. Look, Morgan’s was still there on St. Catherine, now replaced by The Bay. You may recognize the films that provided these sights: the Jones brothers of Golden Gloves by Gilles Groulx, the church from Les Montréalistes by Denys Arcand. The superb colour shots of modern buildings are from Albédo by Jacques Leduc and Renée Roy. And the gorgeous images of actress Geneviève Bujold, don’t they seem familiar? Yes, they’re from Le temps des amours by Hubert Aquin. Director Luc Bourdon and his editor Michel Giroux have assembled fluid, clear sequences, underlining the beauty of the black-and-white images contrasted with colour ones. The Memories of Angels also showcases the singular beauty of Montreal, its architectural and human wealth and the grandeur of its setting.

Production stills

The Memories of Angels is poetry, fiction, documentary and essay rolled into one. It is also a joyous, touching experience and a collective history whose threads dance in one’s mind long after the closing credits.

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As the NFB gets ready to celebrate its 70th birthday, The Memories of Angels recalls the talent of the filmmakers who trained their cameras and microphones on the world around them, as well as the amazing ability of an artist to model new material from old. Like today’s DJs and VJs who energize contemporary music and art, Luc Bourdon draws from the fertile source of great Quebec cinema and recycles the sights and sounds of the past, lending them a new and unexpected texture. The film is a jubilant re-think of time and space, where the ordinary citizen receives the same tender regard as the famous: Armand Vaillancourt, Félix Leclerc, Monique Mercure, Alfred Desrochers.

Luc Bourdon

Director

Prolific filmmaker Luc Bourdon is one of Canada’s leading video artists. Over the last 25 years, he has made some fifty works ranging from documentary to drama and experimental pieces. Many of his works, like Ne retenez pas votre souffle (1986), Question de bande (1998), De la parole aux actes (2000) and La grande bibliothèque (2005) focus on the arts and culture. All of his productions draw on the notions of history and memory, themes that also form the crux of The Memories of Angels (2008), Bourdon’s first work for the National Film Board of Canada.

Photo: Carl Valiquet

Throughout the 1980s, Bourdon gained recognition through singular works that underscored his originality and probing mind, like Distance (1984, co-directed with François Girard), Touei (1985) and The Story of Feniks and Abdullah (1988). These early works heralded the artist’s propensity for poetry in both language and form, and his emphasis on sensations rather than on realistic representation. Plan de fuite/ Flight Plan (1995) and The Memories of Angels eloquently illustrate this. Throughout his multi-faceted career, Bourdon has established himself as a tireless experimenter, an artist who offers up immersive, impressionist worlds (see Classes de maîtres, 2008, his film about the Conservatoire de musique et d’art dramatique du Québec). His practice is marked by a consistent effort to reshape the moving image through a playful approach to sound and image. He has occasionally departed from the single-channel format to create video installations: his 1986 work Promenades lumières, made with Josette Bélanger, was part of the Cent jours d’art contemporain de Montréal; his 1992 piece Quinto et Hommage consisted of two installations shown at Montreal’s Oboro gallery and elsewhere; and À mille lieux, a site-specific work, showed at the Bonsecours Market as part of the celebrations for Montreal’s 350th anniversary in 1992. Ever ready to engage with other artistic forms, he has also worked in the theatre, notably with René-Daniel Dubois for Michel Garneau’s Guerriers at Espace Go (1997) and Eugène Ionesco’s Exit the King (1999). His consistent, multi-form work earned him the 1998 Bell Canada Award from the Canada Council for the Arts. A noteworthy presence in Quebec film and video, he has long been associated with artist-run centres and arts organizations, notably as a member of Vidéographe from 1982 to 1998 and of Les Films de l’autre from 1990 to 1996. In addition to his film work, he has taught videomaking at various universities since 1994. From 2000 to 2003, he was artistic and executive director of the Festival du nouveau cinéma et des nouveaux médias de Montréal (FCMM). He has also been part of numerous think tanks and has helped organize many video events, including La quinzaine de la vidéo (1989, 1998), Heures exquises! (1993) and School’s Out (1995).

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Yves Bisaillon

Executive Producer

Yves Bisaillon was born in Montreal and holds a degree in Urban Planning from Université de Montréal and in Communications from Université du Québec à Montréal. After working in television as a journalist and director, notably for Radio-Canada, he joined the NFB as a producer in 1997. His work includes Raymond Klibansky: From Philosophy to Life (FIFA Award 2002), Just Watch Me - Trudeau and the 70’ Generation, La Cueca Sola (best documentary at Hot Docs 2004), The Cabinet of Doctor Ferron (best cultural documentary at Gémeaux 2004) and What Remains of Us (selected at the International Critic’s Week, Cannes 2004; Jutra for best documentary in 2005). His recent productions include Who Shot My Brother? (people’s choice at FNC 2005), Nadia’s Journey (Caméra au poing Award, RIDM 2006) and Medicine Under the Influence (best science and nature documentary, Gémeaux 2006). Photo: Dominic Morissette

Colette Loumède

Executive Producer

After earning a law degree, Colette Loumède decided to work in cinema. Drawn to auteur films, she began working with La Coopérative Vidéoscopique de Montréal, where she stayed for ten years, occupying a variety of positions related to film creation and production. She then moved to the private sector, joining Les Productions du Regard and Synercom Téléproductions (a group of regional producers), following which she became project manager for SODEC (Société de développement des entreprises culturelles du Québec).

Photo: Dominic Morissette

Between 2002 and 2007, she was executive producer of the NFB French Program’s Documentary Studio A. Thanks to her extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of the industry, she built numerous partnerships with national and international private film production companies, produced or co-produced over 30 films and won many awards. Favouring auteur documentary, Loumède produced or co-produced such documentary features as The Invisible Nation by Richard Desjardins and Robert Monderie, Under the Hood: A Voyage into the World of Torture by Patricio Henriquez (co-produced with Macumba International), The Dark Side of the White Lady by Patricio Henriquez, Driven by Dreams by Serge Giguère (co-produced with Les productions du Rapide-Blanc) and Between Two Notes by Florence Strauss (international co-production with Les Films d’Ici and Amythos Films). In January 2007, Loumède was appointed documentary program director at the Institut national de l’image et du son, where she pursues a parallel career as independent producer.

Producer

Christian Medawar holds a BA in Communications and a master’s degree in History. His 20odd years of experience in film encompass work in the private sector, mainly in advertising, followed by work in the NFB’s English Program, which he joined in 1990 as production manager and then line producer. In 1998, working with the French Program’s Toronto studio, he worked on the films Just Watch Me: Trudeau and the ‘70s Generation and No Quick Fix. Christian joined the NFB’s French Program in Montreal in 1999 to work as line producer on such productions as Hubert Reeves: Star Teller and Bacon, the Film. He also worked on the Gilles Groulx box set. In 2003, he was producer of the interactive Web project Parole citoyenne and of the box set Michel Brault, œuvres 1958-1974 (Collection Mémoire). He is now international producer at the Quebec Studio. Photo: Michel La Veaux

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Christian Medawar

Credits Director Luc Bourdon Editor Michel Giroux Sound design Sylvain Bellemare Frédéric Cloutier Technical support – editing Amélie Bolduc Pierre Dupont Martine Forget Ochelle Greenidge Isabelle Painchaud Danielle Raymond Karinelle Dugas Carole Lalonde Online editing Denis Pilon Re-recording Geoffrey Mitchell Opening and end credits designed by Dave Black Translation and subtitling Kathleen Fleming Anra Médiatextes Rights research and release Sylvia Mezei Legal advisor Dominique Aubry Archival research advisor Sylvie Ménard Film librarians Lorraine Laliberté Katherine Kasirer

NFB film excerpts and stockshots

Les petites sœurs – Pierre Patry Lewis Mumford on the City – Collective Lonely Boy – Wolf Koenig, Roman Kroitor Mademoiselle Barbara – Jack Zolov Manger – Louis Portugais, Gilles Carle Midinette – Roger Blais Montreal – Vincent Paquette Mon enfance à Montréal – Jean Chabot Music Professor – Gil LaRoche Notes sur la contestation – Louis Portugais Notes sur une minorité – Gianfranco Mingozzi On est loin du soleil – Jacques Leduc Où êtes-vous donc? – Gilles Groulx Our Street Was Paved with Gold – Albert Kish Passage – Normand Grégoire Petit discours de la méthode – Pierre Patry, Claude Jutra Pilgrimage – Terence Macartney-Filgate Postcards from Canada – Kenneth Hirsch, Hannele Halm, Tony Ianzelo, David Wilson Pour quelques arpents de neige – Georges Dufaux, Jacques Godbout Québec – USA ou l’invasion pacifique – Michel Brault, Claude Jutra Québec...? (Archives nationales du Québec) Royal River – Gordon Sparling, Roger Blais Saint-Denys Garneau – Louis Portugais Script to Screen – Claude Delorme Ships in the Ice Snow – Barrie McLean Solange dans nos campagnes – Gilles Carle Stop – Jean Beaudin Stravinsky – Roman Kroitor, Wolf Koenig Talent Showcase – Roger Blais, Sydney Newman, Douglas Tunstell The Canadians – Tom Daly The Changing City – Kirk Jones The Climates of North America – Joseph Koenig The Days Before Christmas – Terence Macartney-Filgate, Stanley Jackson, Wolf Koenig, Georges Dufaux The Ever - changing Lowlands – Tony Ianzelo The Man on the Assembly Line – Morten Parker The Invention of the Adolescent – Patricia Watson The Price of Fire – Bruce Parsons Train 406 – Fergus McDonell Trans-Canada Journey – Graham Parker Trans Canada Summer – Ronald Dick Tu enfanteras dans la joie – Bernard Devlin Un jeu si simple – Gilles Groulx Une job steady...Un bon boss – Ian McL aren Urbanisme – Le plan d’aménagement – Louis Portugais Vivre sa ville – Jacques Godbout Voir Miami – Gilles Groulx When Your Time Is Your Own – Ernest Reid Winter in Canada – Guy L. Côté YUL 871 – Jacques Godbout

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5,000 Miles – Rex Tasker A City Is – James Carney A Is for Architecture – Robert Verrall, Gerald Budner À Saint-Henri le cinq septembre – Hubert Aquin Adultes avec réserve – Jack Zolov, Marc Beaudet Âge de pierre – Jacques Languirand Albédo – Jacques Leduc, Renée Roy Alfred Desrochers, poète – Claude Fournier Artist in Montreal – Jean Palardy Au bout de la ligne – David Millar Au bout de ma rue – Louis-Georges Carrier Au hasard du temps – Jacques Giraldeau Au parc L afontaine – Pierre Petel Autobiographical by A.M. Klein – Richard Notkin Blades and Brass – William Canning Ça n’est pas le temps des romans – Fernand Dansereau Canada Calling – David A. Smith

Canadian Profile – Allan Wargon Caroline – Clément Perron, Georges Dufaux Chantons maintenant – Claude Jutra Circulation à Montréal – Bernard Devlin City Scene – George Kaczender, Gordon Burwash Collège contemporain – Pierre Patry De Montréal à Manicouagan – Arthur Lamothe Dimanche d’Amérique – Gilles Carle Élément 3 – Jacques Giraldeau En octobre – Jacques Bobet Entre tu et vous – Gilles Groulx Fabienne sans son Jules – Jacques Godbout Free Fall – Arthur Lipsett Freeze-In – F. Whitman Trecartin Golden Gloves – Gilles Groulx Helicopter Canada – Eugene Boyko Huit témoins – Jacques Godbout Il était une guerre – Louis Portugais Il y eut un soir...Il y eut un matin – Pierre Patry Image, que me veux-tu? – André Martin Impressions of Expo 67 – William Brind Industrial Canada – Guy L. Côté Inland Seaport – Ronald Weyman Introducing Canada – Tom Daly Je chante à cheval avec Willie L amothe – collective Jeunesses musicales – Claude Jutra Jour de juin – Marcel Martin L’homme multiplié – Claude Godbout, Georges Dufaux L’homme nouveau – Yves André, Claude Péloquin L a beauté même – Monique Fortier L a bourse et la vie – Jean Dansereau L a communauté juive de Montréal – Fernand Dansereau L a crèche d’Youville – Bernard Devlin L a fin des étés – Anne Claire Poirier L a forme des choses – Jacques Giraldeau L a loi de la ville – Michel Bouchard L a p’tite Bourgogne – Maurice Bulbulian L a télévision est là – André Martin, Éric de Bayser L a vie heureuse de Léopold Z – Gilles Carle Le Canada industriel – Guy L. Côté Le chat dans le sac – Gilles Groulx Le plan sentimental – Jacques Leduc Le retour – Bernard Devlin Le temps des amours – Hubert Aquin Le vieil âge – Jacques Giraldeau Legault’s Place – Suzanne Angel Les administrateurs – Fernand Dansereau, Jacques Godbout Les amoureux de Montréal – Jacques Giraldeau Les Dieux – Jacques Godbout, Georges Dufaux Les enfants du silence – Michel Brault Les Habitations Jeanne-Mance – Eugene Boyko Les mains nettes – Claude Jutra Les Montréalistes – Denys Arcand

With

The Commodores Igor Stravinsky Armand Vaillancourt Oscar Peterson Gisèle Mackenzie Laflèche Denise Provost Jean Brousseau J. Léo Gagnon Yvan Leroux John Newmark Lionel Daunais Félix Leclerc Dominique Michel Charles Trenet Alfred Desrochers René Lecavalier Raymond Lévesque Geneviève Bujold Jean Faubert Pauline Julien Etienne Aubray François Tassé Patricia Nolin Paul Anka Barbara Ulrich Gérald Godin Charles Denner Danielle Jourdan Mouffe Carol-Lynne Traynor Monique Mercure Claude Godbout Paul Tex Lecor Jean Drapeau Willie Lamothe and many other participants Musical excerpts

“Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho” Performed by The Commodores “Symphony of Psalms” Played by the CBC Symphony Orchestra Composed and conducted by Igor Stravinsky With the permission of Boosey and Hawkes / CMRRA

Piano boogie-woogie Performed by Oscar Peterson “J’ai laissé mon cœur” Performed by Gisèle Mackenzie Laflèche Written by Michel Emer With the permission of BMG Music Publishing Canada “Mamma” Written by Cesare Andrea Bixio and Geo Koger With the permission of PeerMusic Canada / CMRRA

“À St-Henri” Written and performed by Raymond Lévesque With the permission of Industrie musicale enrg. / SODRAC “Le soleil et la lune” Performed by Charles Trenet Written by Charles Trenet and Albert Lasry With the permission of Éditions Raoul Breton “Chanson du temps perdu” Performed by Hélène C. Savard Written by Gilles Vigneault With the permission of Éditions Vent qui vire / SODRAC “Bozo les culottes” Written and performed by Raymond Lévesque With the permission of Éditions Gamma Ltée / SODRAC

Thanks to

Michelle Chanonat Don McWilliams Yvon Rivard Carol Faucher Pascale Ferland and René Roberge Claudette, Daniel and Line Estate of Igor Stravinsky Standard Radio Montreal NHL Productions Paul Anka Marketing officer François Jacques assisted by Solen Labrie Trépanier Administrator Manon Provencher Production coordinator Nathalie Cloutier Administrative assistants Dominique Brunet Lise Lévesque Technical coordinator Richard Cliche Associate producer Maryse Chapdelaine Associate producer, development Christiane Germain

“Mattinata Fiorentina (Maria Mia)” Written by Giovanni D’Anzi, Michele Galdieri and Carl Sigman With the permission of EMI Robbins Catalog Inc.

Producer, development Colette Loumède

“Put Your Head On My Shoulder ” Written and performed by Paul Anka With the permission of Chrysalis Music Group

Producer Christian Medawar

“Qui bat la mesure du cœur” Performed by Monique Mercure Written by Georges Dor With the permission of Éditions Emmanuel Inc. / SODRAC “Le patriote” Written and performed by Paul Tex Lecor With the permission of Éditions Gamma Ltée / SODRAC “Chérie tu me demandes si je t’aime” Written and performed by Willie Lamothe With the permission of Densta Music / SODRAC and music by:

Eldon Rathburn Yvan Landry René Thomas Kenneth Campbell François Dompierre Stéphane Venne Pierre Mercure Jean Lapointe Jérôme Lemay Frank Duboise

Executive producers Yves Bisaillon Colette Loumède

The Memories of Angels French Program Quebec Studio A production of the National Film Board of Canada www.nfb.ca © 2008 NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA

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“Au parc Lafontaine” Performed by le Trio Lyrique Written by Pierre Petel, arranged by Alan MacIvor

“Frère Jacques” Performed by John Newmark Arranged by Maurice Blackburn “Les trottoirs” Performed by Dominique Michel Written by Raymond Lévesque With the permission of Éditions musicales Patricia Sarl / Semi Société / SODRAC