SetinasmallQuebectowninthelate-1920′s,thisemotionaldramafollowsthelifeandexploitsofCelesteBeaumont,atalentedyoungpianistwhogainslocalcelebrityatthetownmovietheaterforhergiftsasasilentfilmpianist.AwkwardPierreBlaudellisherbiggestfanandeventuallymarriesher.Shortlyafterthisshebearshisson,Pierre,whojoinsthearmy.Sheinsistsonjoininghimatthebaseandhismeddlesome,snootyparentsinsistshegivethemherson.Pierreiskilledinthewar,andCelestefleestoNewYorkwhereshefindssteadyemploymentasajazzpianist.Shefindsalife-longcompanionwithablackmusicianandchroniclesherexperiencesinadiarythatshepassesontohersonafterhegrowsup.Hersonbecomesapainterandoncehisownson,Antoine,isgrown,readshimthestoryofCeleste,theyouth’sgrandmother.Intrigued,AntoineheadstotheBigAppleinhopesoffindingher.ThismovieisanemotionaldramaabouthowAntoine,playedbeautifullybyFrançoisMéthé,discoversthedetailsofhisheritage.ThisfilmwonmanyawardsinCanadaandatCannesin1988.FrançoisMéthé,whowasabout11-years-old,neveractedagainafterthismovie.FromIMDb:Aquietpainter,separatedfromhiswifeforayear,receivesasuitcaseinthemailfromhismother,whomhehasn’tseensinceinfancy.Hebelievessheabandonedhimtohiswealthy,paternalgrandparents.Thesuitcasecontainsmementosandadiary,alonglettertohim,writtenovertheyears,withdetailsofheryouth,herfirstjobasapianistatacinema,thecomingoftalkies,hermarriage,andhowhecametolivewithhisgrandparents.Ashereadsthroughthematerialsandherstorycomestolife,hissonAntoine,who’sabout10or12,triestobreakthroughhisfather’ssilenceandsorrowbytakingmattersintohisownhands.
