so I want to distinguish this from the other "overlooked movies" thread, just cuz this particular thread's all about 2003 releases and I thought it might be useful.
anyway the movie I want to share is called Roger Toupin, épicier variété, and it's a documentary by a benoît pilon, a montreal filmmaker. it basically covers a year or so in the life of m. toupin, who runs a dépanneur (a small variety store/grocery in mtl parlance) in the plateau mont-royal neighbourhood.
the plateau (where I lived for years) is a really beautiful neighbourhood, once primarily populated by working-class families, and now pretty overrun with yuppies and condo developers. toupin's store was opened in 1939 by his father, and roger would take it over in 1975 or so. it's kind of a classically old-school montreal place in its painted-wood aesthetic, and neighbourhood locals would tend to hang out there to drink coffee and play the violin and stuff.
anyway, the movie is a really lovely, quiet and slow view of this neighbourhood and its people, and how montreal in general has changed over the years (and especially the last half-decade or so). if you get a chance to see it I reccomend it!
― s1utsky (slutsky), Saturday, 20 December 2003 16:50 (twenty-one years ago)
That sounds great, Mr Slutsky!
The civic pride aspect is also graet, and thus I shall heartily rep the Yay Area by recommending