Presented by Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma

On n'engraisse pas les cochons à l'eau claire

Directed by Jean Pierre lefebvre

Credits  

Director

Jean Pierre lefebvre

Producer

Jean Pierre lefebvre

Writer

Jean Pierre lefebvre

Cast

Jean-René Ouellet, Denys Arcand, J.-Léo Gagnon,, Marthe Nadeau, Francine Ruel

Quebec 1973 102 mins OV French
Genre DramaThrillerClassique

Jean Pierre Lefebvre: “ON N'ENGRAISSE PAS LES COCHONS À L'EAU CLAIRE was intended to be the pilot for a series of 12 very low-budget B-movies that I wanted to shoot in 12 different Quebec cities in an attempt to 'replace' the American or foreign genre films that populated the double bill that was the norm in cinemas at the time, and thus to contribute to the growth of the rather rare images of ourselves. I'd heard a story about a young RCMP officer working in the CEGEP environment. I wrote a synopsis and started looking for actors. The characters took shape during these meetings, with people referring their friends to me and asking me to write a short role for them. So I did, and the whole thing became a story of friendship, mainly with Jean-René Ouellet. Ten days of shooting in Hull (now Gatineau), in February 1973. 16mm B&W to be blown up to 35mm. My first film—of a series of six—with Guy Dufaux at the camera. Quebec's first syndicated film. Produced by Cinak ltée and Les Productions Prisma. A budget of $64,000.”

From the outset, it's important to point out that ON N'ENGRAISSE PAS LES COCHONS À L'EAU CLAIRE was intended to be an experimental fable told like a film noir. Very dark. Released in cinemas on 15 November 1973, the film was shot in 16mm black & white and enlarged to 35mm to accentuate the grain and give the slush all its grit on screen. Bob Tremblay is an RCMP narcotics officer who infiltrates the Cégep de Hull posing as a student. He lives with his parents and has a girlfriend whom he cheats on from time to time. Some of the students suspect Bob of being a double agent, so they kidnap his fiancée, Hélène. What follows is a series of actions with irreparable consequences. For the purposes of this rare screening, we have scanned the 16mm print and digitally enlarged it to 35mm, to the satisfaction of its director. The film will be presented in the presence of Jean Pierre Lefebvre and will be preceded by the short documentary JEAN PIERRE LEFEBVRE directed by Simon Galiero, who will also be present at this unique screening of a film that is virtually unseen today. – Translation: Rupert Bottenberg