The Indian community of Lake Simon,
Canada
Directed by Alain de Halleux

26 MIN
BETA DIGITAL (16/9)

Original version available
with English or French commentary
 
documentary – lifestyle – surroundings – art – culture
– society – history – nature – work – everyday life

SYNOPSIS

Kaleidoscope becomes immersed in an Indian reservation, discovering a little known style of living. There are 634 Native American communities in America, grouped into 52 nations, of which 11 are located in Canada. The Algonquin community of Lac Simon ("Simo Sagahican" in Algonquin, after a 19th century Indian chief) was established in 1962, 32 kilometres south east of Val-d'Or on the western shore of Lac Simon and comprises 1 102 inhabitants (of which +/- 52% are over 20). Traditionally, this is a place where hunters' families settled down to carry out their seasonal activities. The activities of the Lac Simon community are more diversified that in other Algonquin communities: art, craftwork, construction, forestry (indeed, exploitation of the woods is a source of conflict with private companies), trapping in all seasons, transport and tourism. At the present time, 281 members of the community are in work. In the splendour of a Quebec autumn, Kaleidoscope sketches the portrait of the Algonquin living space where cultural traditions are still very much alive and, despite the difficulties and the conflicts of interest on the cultural and economic level, are currently on the increase.

CREDITS

Directed by : Alain de Halleux
Script : Alain de Halleux
Mister Kaleidoscope was written and acted by Marc-Henri Wajnberg
Image : Jean-Paul De Zaeytijd
Editing : Dominique Lefever
Sound : Damien Defays

INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION

Wajnbrosse Productions
Video cassette available on request Contact-us

PRODUCTION

ARTE France
Panic Productions
Wajnbrosse Productions

With the support of
Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC) ,
Ministère de la Communauté Française de Belgique et des Télédistributeurs Wallons

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