Original subtitles

As with the novel on which it is based, the film you are about to see

does not claim to represent all of Canada.

Canadians have not looked kindly on the ever spreading idea their beautiful country

is but a succession of forests, buried for most of the year under a blanket of snow.

They are rightly proud of the large cities that have sprung up over the course of

the last centuries, cities that resemble the largest American cities.

Maria Chapdelaine is the story of a family of pioneers and loggers,

of those peasants descended from the French people who 300 years ago reached

a land then almost wild and deserted. Faithfully and tenaciously, they fought

to preserve the language and the mores of old France, home of their fathers.

The author of this film has attempted to recreate the exact circumstances

of the life of those families that reside, far from towns and cities,

in solitary houses at the edge of forbidding woods.

He has allowed the characters to speak the language of real French Canadians,

sprinkled with old homespun expressions and new words borrowed from the English.

To make the film clearer to French ears, the actors have deliberately eschewed

a Canadian accent that might have seemed harsh and difficult to understand.

But the film was shot in the very places so vividly described by Louis H�mon:

In the land of Quebec, specifically on the banks of Lake Saint-Jean and

in the town of Peribonka, the last "parish" before the Great Canadian North.

O Canada

Land of our forefathers

Thy brow is wreathed

with a glorious garland of flowers.

As is thy arm ready to wield the sword

So also is it ready to carry the cross.

Thy history is an epic

of the most brilliant exploits.

Thy valour

steeped in faith

Will protect our homes and our rights

Will protect our homes and our rights.

Ahoy there!

I say. If it isn't Fran�ois Paradis!

- Where are you guys headed? - Down to the plant.

Good thing I ran into you. I'm off to Peribonka.

Well! It's Chapdelaine.

Oh, Fran�ois Paradis! Well, get in.

So, how goes it?

You haven't changed in the 3 years since you've been down.

- Has it really been 3 years? - Yes.

2 years spent in the Labrador

and another one trading with the savages over by the river. What about you?

The usual. I spent most of the winter chopping trees in Camp No. 2.

- A good job. - I heard it got a bit cool.

64 degrees below zero. Our eyeballs were almost frozen.

But that's nothing. We earn a good wage. And I'll be home tomorrow.

Papa Chapdelaine will be happy.

- I'm the only one earning in the winter. - How are they doing back home?

I got some news last month from a trapper. They're still solid.

This spring, my sister Maria went down to Peribonka

to spend a month with some relatives, the Larouches.

Ah, Maria... It's been a good... 5 years since I last saw her.

She was quite pleasant, with those two long braids.

Maria! Are you making yourself pretty for me?

It's a shame young lovers like us are being forced to part.

You be quiet. Young lovers like you leave behind the best dead bodies.

I'll stop by the store before mass to say goodbye to everyone.

It's hard to believe a month could go by so quickly.

Too bad your father had the idea to live in the woods so far away from a parish.

Otherwise, we'd have you here more often.

Thank you, my aunt. It's very sad, that's for sure.

For sure!

Long live the Canadian girl Fly, my heart, fly, fly, fly

Long live the Canadian girl and her sweet pretty eyes

And her sweet pretty eyes. So, so sweet.

See you tonight in Peribonka!

Hey! Mr. Chapdelaine!

Ho, Charles-Eug�ne, slow down!

Here's a face from the past!

I hear you're off to pick up Maria.

That's correct, Fran�ois. It's the honest truth.

- Climb on. - Thanks.

Let's go... giddyup!

- I saw Esdras this morning on the river. - Good.

We haven't seen you lately. Have you been away?

No, but as you know, I've never really cared for clearing land.

When father died, I sold the land. I've been running around since.

- I have to keep moving. - That's you. I'm different. I have to work the land.

When I see woods like these, it's as if I become enraged.

I have to fell trees, root out stumps. And then I sow.

And after I've sweated and toiled and the harvest is here,

I get disgusted, and I have to go elsewhere.

Where there are trees to be felled and hard work to be done.

- It's funny how you and I are so alike. - Great minds think alike.

A good house on a clear field with a pretty girl inside:

that's a nice setup for the winter.

- Hey, Chapdelaine, here he is. - Oh, my father!

- Hello, Samuel. - Hello, Nazaire.

Hello, my father. Hi, Charles-Eug�ne.

- We missed you at home, Maria. - But we were just fine.

We were singing and playing every single night.

Hey, it's Fran�ois Paradis!

You remember Fran�ois Paradis, Maria.

Fran�ois Paradis from Saint-Michel of Mistassini.

Of course, my father.

- He has hardly changed. - Hello.

Neither have you, Mr. Chapdelaine.

It's different with your daughter, but I would have still recognized her.

It's really nice to see so many people after spending 7 months in the woods.

Are you a logger like my brother Esdras, Mr. Fran�ois?

No, he hunts for fur. He gets around.

And he spends his nights with savages along with their pipe smoking women.

Time for mass.

This is so nice, Maria...

Who wants to buy a suckling pig from my great stock?

We know all about the pigs from your great stock.

Big as rats and quick as squirrels.

I'll give you 40 cents.

What?

I'll give you a buck.

Are you learning to be a father?

And how.

Listen up.

There's a man here with money to buy pelts.

If you have hides from bears, minks or foxes,

go see him in the store.

Or talk to Fran�ois Paradis from Mistassini.

Are you working for that man?

I don't have a boss, Mr. Chapdelaine. No, he's Belgian.

He came this morning. I'm meeting him in the store.

- So you came here by chariot. - Eh?

- Yes, you came here by chariot. - Chariot? I came here by railroad.

Yes, by chariot.

Why are you laughing like this?

Because you have a funny accent. And we don't speak the same French.

I'll tell you what. When we Canadians speak French

to the best of our knowledge, we're speaking real French.

Go on, you're making me laugh.

You're right, Fran�ois. You have to wet your whistle to keep it from getting rusty.

- A glass of beer, Mr. Vermeulen? - Yes, gladly.

Thanks, Mr. Chapdelaine.

- I hope we'll see you again soon. - As do I, Mr. B�dart.

- Goodbye. - Goodbye, Mr. B�dart.

Goodbye, Nazaire.

- Bye, my uncle. - But I'm coming with you.

We have to hurry home before dark.

- Goodbye, Mr. Chapdelaine. - Goodbye, Fran�ois.

- You're not staying with us? - No, no. Goodbye, everyone.

- Goodbye, Miss Maria. - Goodbye, Mr. Fran�ois.

I'm going up north with the Belgian to buy pelts from the savages

But I'll be passing by your house when I come down in 2 or 3 weeks.

If we make camp above the falls, I'd like to come visit one evening.

That's right, Fran�ois. We'll be expecting you. Giddyup!

Goodbye!

I often regret that we live so far from churches.

It's possible that not being able to practice our religion every Sunday

prevents us from being as lucky as others.

Others are no happier than we are, my father.

At the fountain clear While I was strolling by

I found the water so nice That I went in to bathe

I've loved you for so long Never will I forget you

This is so nice, Maria...

Tit'b�!

Stop!

May the prairie sister come honor my wigwam and smoke the peace pipe.

Later.

It is noon. Who said that? The mouse did

Then where is she? In the chapel

What is she doing? Making lace

For whom? For these young ladies How much is it? 3 quarts of salt

- Hello, Alma-Rose. - Hello, Maria.

Hello, dog.

See how smart you look.

Oh, Chrysostom! It's Maria.

Hello, my mother.

Bad children are a curse.

It's OK, my mother. It's the demons.

Yes, the demon of disobedience made me do it. For sure.

If he comes back, I'll take my father's rifle and I'll kill him.

You can't kill demons.

You've come back from town in a very good mood, Maria.

But it's spring, my mother.

- Hello, everyone. - Eutrope Gagnon is visiting.

I thought I'd come see if you were back.

The family has some new additions, Maria.

Oh, the darlings.

Oh, they're so cute.

Look, Mr. Gagnon. Here, take them.

You know, Maria, I took down the big fir tree behind my house.

- All by yourself? - Yes. - You're strong, Mr. Gagnon.

Will you have some pea soup with us, Mr. Eutrope?

I'd be very happy to, Mrs. Chapdelaine

Johnny Bouchard built a new barn last summer.

And it's one of the Perron girls,

the daughter of Ab�lard Perron from Saint-Jerome.

She's the one who teaches school.

Peribonka is a fine parish indeed. It would have suited me nicely to

- spend my married life there. - Any regrets, Laura?

It may be wicked to say so, but the winter lasted more than 7 months.

That's an awful lot of days of not seeing anyone. Except for you, Mr. Gagnon.

It's a good life. No one comes to bother us.

We're right next to each other. And we love each other.

- The children aren't any trouble. - True.

Esdras earns good money on logging drives.

He's coming back tomorrow. We'll have money. Such is life.

Starting tomorrow, Edwige L�gar�, our hired hand, will be back.

With him, Esdras et Tit'b�, we'll work the land.

Yes, my father. I'm strong enough now.

And in 2 years, the land around the house will be fit for gardening and grazing.

- Patience. - It will be the same on my side.

Yes, it's a good life. Isn't it, Miss Maria?

Oh yes.

Doggie. Come here, doggie.

The Indians were here last week. They must be camping near Zouaves Lake.

OK, we'll find those Chrysostoms. And then we'll smoke the peace pipe.

Ouch! That mosquito was the size of a camel.

Ouch! Bloodsucker.

Blasphemy! I'll get you to move.

Meet your master.

Bow down!

Cool water, blasphemy! Give me some cool water.

Here you go.

There. It's nice, eh?

Take it easy, Mr. L�gar�! Leave some for the others.

Oh, it's so good.

Back to work, Edwige!

We're dying, boss. Working the land is killing us.

Here, my father.

What's the story, Charles-Eug�ne? Come on, gee up.

- Is everything coming along, Maria? - The pea soup will be ready soon.

Come on, gee up.

- Oh, water, water! - Here, Tit'b�, easy.

Water! Give me some.

Come on, guys, back to work.

Be strong.

If I have any consolation from having to live so deep into the woods,

it's to watch my men working the land.

There's nothing in the world more beautiful or pleasant.

Oh, that one. I really like Eutrope Gagnon, too.

He reminds me of your father

back when I was a young girl.

If I was young, I'd like him.

He has kind eyes, Maria, when he looks at you.

Yes, he has kind eyes...

Gee up, gee up.

We're dying here, boss.

What does he say?

He says they put on their ceremonial costumes in your honor.

So you'll go down the river tomorrow.

I'll meet you in 2 days at Savannah Falls. I'm going to visit some friends.

Agreed.

You always say we're lost in the woods, far from the parishes, never seeing a soul.

Well, have a count. 12 adults.

Have a seat, Mr. Surprenant. It's nice of you to come calling with these gentlemen.

My nephew Lorenzo, son of my brother Elz�ar, who died last autumn.

He left the land and now works in the city, in manufacturing.

He came back home to sell the house to these 3 Frenchmen.

- Please sit down, French gentlemen. - Thank you.

Miss Maria, this is my nephew Lorenzo.

Are there any as beautiful in the city?

Certainly not.

Maria, get some smoke going. We're being eaten by mosquitoes.

Around here, those critters turn noses into potatoes

and cheeks into fat asses.

Nazaire, don't be vulgar.

Someone needs to educate these gentlemen about the charms of the land of Quebec.

- So you're here from France? - Yes, from Paris.

Before you came here, were you also farmers?

Oh no. My sons worked in offices.

And I was a piano tuner.

A piano tuner!?

Piano tuner?

Yup.

Was it a good trade? Did you earn good wages?

Not too good, eh? But you and your sons are educated.

You know how to read, write and count. And I can't even read.

Neither can I.

Nor I.

Nor I.

You don't need it. What you need is air, trees, and freedom.

Here, everything is amazing. The big lakes, the fir trees...

As far as fir trees...

- But... there is winter. - We'll play sports.

Sports?

Winter sports. Bobsled, ski, luge.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- Come on. Shall we play cards? - Sure. - Over there.

- Here, have a cup of tea. - Excuse us, Mr. Frenchmen.

Let's have some music, Mr. Larouche.

And we'll sing "Skylark" in honor of the Frenchmen. Ready? Let's go.

Skylark, nice skylark, Skylark,

I shall pluck you

SKYLARK, NICE SKYLARK SKYLARK, I SHALL PLUCK YOU

- I shall pluck your head - I SHALL PLUCK YOUR HEAD

- I shall pluck your head - I SHALL PLUCK YOUR HEAD

- And your head - AND YOUR HEAD - Skylark - SKYLARK

SKYLARK, NICE SKYLARK SKYLARK, I SHALL PLUCK YOU

- I shall pluck your tail - I SHALL PLUCK YOUR TAIL

- I shall pluck your tail - I SHALL PLUCK YOUR TAIL

- And your tail - AND YOUR TAIL - And your head - AND YOUR HEAD - Skylark - SKYLARK

SKYLARK, NICE SKYLARK SKYLARK, I SHALL PLUCK YOU

- I shall pluck your back - I SHALL PLUCK YOUR BACK

Do you live in a big place?

- Yes, population 200,000. - Population 200,000?

- You've never seen a big city? - No, it must be beautiful.

- Would you like a cup of tea? - With pleasure.

- Oh! - What?

It's God's day. Here comes Fran�ois Paradis.

- Hello, everyone. - Oh, Mr. Paradis.

- Hello, Fran�ois. - Hello, Mr. Chapdelaine.

It's Fran�ois. I recognize him.

- You know Nazaire Larouche. - Yes, of course.

- Here are 3 Frenchmen come to Canada. - Ah, these gentlemen are French?

Hello, Miss Maria.

Well, we now have lots of boys. But only one girl.

This is a lovely party, with lots of people.

Just like when I was a young girl in Saint-Prime.

We have country folk, city folk...

We only needed a trapper.

There it is!

I'm leaving tonight, Maria, But I will come back.

Go, go, go!

Go, giddyup!

Long live the Canadian girl Fly, my heart, fly, fly, fly

Long live the Canadian girl and her sweet pretty eyes

We still have time to pick blueberries before nightfall.

Blueberries? Mrs. Chapdelaine, picking blueberries...

That's not a job for a poor devil like me.

Oh, come now.

Oh, there are tons over here.

We'll have preserves for the whole winter. For sure.

There's a big bunch right here.

Oh, the others can't be very far away.

I'm going down to La Tuque next week to work on the lumber-dam, but...

I won't drink, Maria. I won't have a glass, not a single one.

- Maybe they've said something about me? - Oh no, Fran�ois.

It's true. I was in the habit of drinking a bit

coming down from the lumber yards and the logging drives. No more.

Oh, I know, Fran�ois.

When a man has spent 6 months working hard in the woods,

with only hardship and never any amusement

and he gets to the parishes with his pocket full of winter wages,

he almost always loses his head a little.

He spends money, and sometimes... he finds a little warmth.

But that's all over.

Maria... I'm going to work all summer for 5 bucks a day.

I'll definitely set some money aside.

Come autumn, I'll hire on as foreman in a lumber yard.

That means by springtime, I'll have at least saved... 1000 bucks.

Then... I'll come back.

Yes, I'll come back.

But will you still be here next spring, Maria?

Yes.

But there will be all of summer, autumn... and then winter.

Then I'll come back.

I will wait, Fran�ois.

- The convoy leaves in the morning at 7. - Right.

- You won't be able to go back down until March. - In 6 months, that's right.

My aunt Michel Your bumble foot

Jos� Simon Griffor, pandor Your nose outside!

Be good now. Otherwise, when I come back in the spring,

- my little finger will tell me all. - Oh yes.

Take good care of yourself and don't go adrift in the woods.

- No, no. - Goodbye. - Goodbye.

Goodbye.

- So long. - Goodbye, my boy.

Well, goodbye, my father.

Here is the first snow, my mother.

Already?

It makes no sense to leave the yard in winter.

Nothing doing, boss. I decided to spend New Year's Eve in Peribonka. I'm going.

If the men start taking vacations in the middle of work, might as well break camp.

What's decided is decided.

Makes no sense, with more than 8 feet of snow in the woods.

Oh, I'm used to hardship.

If the savages can get through, then so can I.

- Oh yeah? - Yeah.

The savages travel in groups, and with dogs.

Is that so? I'll go down the Croche River first.

And then the Ouiatchouaniche down to Roberval.

If a northeaster starts blowing, you're bound to go adrift in the woods.

- He's right. - Yes, yes. That's right.

OK, goodbye everyone.

- And Happy New Year. - GOODBYE, PARADIS!

- It makes no sense, Fran�ois. - We'll see.

- If the roads are as bad as last year... - We might not be able to go

to midnight mass tomorrow.

The roads are blocked.

With all that snow these past 2 weeks, there's no hope.

Is it true, my mother, that you always get what you wish for

when you say 1000 Ave Marias on Christmas Eve?

It's true. If you have something to wish for

and you say 1000 proper Ave Marias before midnight on Christmas Eve...

it's very rare that you don't get your wish.

Oh, Chrysostom! It won't be easy.

The roads are out.

We won't be able to get through for several days.

It must be bad in the woods.

Is there anything more beautiful than midnight mass at Holy Heart of Mary?

With Yvonne Boilly at the harmonium

and Pacifique Simard who sings so beautifully?

It's true, Laura.

You would have had a happier life with another man.

You would have stayed on good land... near the towns.

No, Samuel.

Would you like to be rocked?

- Oh yes. - Come on then.

- Shall we sing as well? - Oh yes.

Good. Then sing with me "He Is Born, The Heav'nly Child. "

HE IS BORN, THE HEAV'NLY CHILD

OBOES PLAY, SET BAGPIPES SOUNDING

HE IS BORN, THE HEAV'NLY CHILD

LET ALL SING HIS NATIVITY

'TIS 4000 YEARS AND MORE

PROPHETS HAVE FORETOLD HIS COMING

'Tis 4000 years and more

Have we waited this happy hour

HE IS BORN, THE HEAV'NLY CHILD

OBOES PLAY, SET BAGPIPES SOUNDING

HE IS BORN, THE HEAV'NLY CHILD...

And now, "Fountain Clear!" That's a beautiful one.

It's the most beautiful.

At the fountain clear I lay down to rest

I found the water so clear That I went in to bathe

That's Fran�ois Paradis's song.

I've loved you for so long Never will I forget you

On the highest branch The nightingale was singing

Sing, nightingale, sing Your heart is so happy

I'VE LOVED YOU FOR SO LONG

NEVER WILL I FORGET YOU

Hail, Mary

May he return in the spring.

Here I am, Maria.

Did you miss me?

Your heart feels like laughing Mine feels like weeping

...(I lost my beloved)

Here I am, Maria. (I lost my beloved)

Did you miss me? (I've loved you for so long)

Never will I forget you

Virgin Mary, you know how much hardship one must endure living alone in the woods.

You also know how my heart stops whenever I think about that little Maria.

It's half past 11. People are getting ready.

Are you feeling blue?

No, no... No, that's not it.

How far away we are...

How beautiful it must be. It's midnight.

Midnight, Christians

It is the solemn hour

When God as Man

descended unto us

To erase the original stain

How far away we are...

I'm done.

Oh, please, may he return in the spring.

I've come to wish you a Happy New Year.

That's nice, Eutrope.

A kiss, eh?

The roads are better. We're off to eat at the priest's.

Then we'll spend the evening with the Surprenant brothers. Are you coming along?

Of course. I brought my sleigh with me.

- You be good until we get back. - Of course, my mother.

We would have been very sad to spend the holidays without seeing anyone.

We'll have a good time in town.

Happy New Year! Happy New Year!

It looks like

Fran�ois Paradis.

- Are you bringing back someone dead? - Yes.

Did you know Fran�ois Paradis?

From Saint-Michel of Mistassini.

Certainly.

- He was a good man. - He left camp

2 days before Christmas.

He said he wanted to spend the holidays in town.

But the northeaster must have caught him in the burnt lands.

On Christmas Eve,

a storm arose, and he must have gone adrift.

I found his body

near the Croche River.

The wolves didn't give it any respect.

He was a man, a real one.

Strong and brave. Without malice.

Of course.

God had no cause to send him to his death ahead of anyone else.

A boy like few nowadays.

A man without peers.

He was a special man when it came to work,

afraid of nothing and helpful at that.

Those who knew him had friendship for him.

Laura, you said it. It's true, a man without peers.

He had almost no family.

So we'll have a mass or two said for him, eh, Laura?

For sure. Three high masses, with singing.

He was like other men, not perfect,

but he lived a clean life.

It was hard not to love him. God and the Holy Virgin will take pity on him.

Then I push him very gently against the wall

and I tell him, "My dear fellow,

"I'll have you know we speak French here.

"If it makes your ears bleed, the chariots aren't very far

"and we're not holding you back. "

Come on over here.

There was such friendship between us.

He was due back in the spring.

He must have wanted to come back too soon.

He must have fallen to his knees and then...

the cold got him.

And then... the snow piled up.

If there was friendship between you, it's natural to feel some sorrow.

But the two of you weren't engaged, since

neither of you said anything to your parents.

So, to feel sorry like this

and to let yourself suffer over a boy,

over a boy who after all was nothing to you...

- Nothing? - It's unseemly.

You can say masses and you can pray for him.

He'll like that better than wailing.

But to grieve without reason?

God doesn't like that.

A girl like you, nice to look at, in good health, who's also strong

and knows how to keep house, well she must above all support her parents.

And then she should get married and build a Christian family.

So Maria, do you promise to stop torturing yourself like this?

God knows what is good for us.

We must not rebel and complain. Fran�ois Paradis is dead.

We must pray for him.

I of course will have no regret about praying for him.

He will like that, where he is.

That's right, Maria.

And now, friends, let us say an Our Father and a Hail Mary

for the one who went adrift in the woods.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

All right, very well then.

Start the music.

She was a young girl who wasn't yet fifteen

She had fallen asleep under a white rosebush

HER VEIL HITHER, HER VEIL THITHER HER VEIL FLEW, HER VEIL FLEW HIGH

She had fallen asleep under a white rosebush

You didn't expect this place to be like this, this kind of life...

Not quite, no. Still, this is beautiful country.

Ah, life is hard here. Life is hard.

Yes, it's hard.

This is Quebec.

And this is Montreal.

Every time I come back here, I wonder why people didn't leave a long time ago.

Yes, to go live elsewhere, in some place less harsh.

Are you saying this because of our tiny houses, Mr. Lorenzo?

No, not just that. Everything. Summer is too short. Winter is too long.

Don't say that. There's no better life than that of a homesteader

who's in good health, and owns land, with no debts or boss.

Life should be lived in less harsh places.

Places where you can go out in the winter with no fear of dying.

With no fear of dying...

Tomorrow is Sunday. I would like very much to see you in the afternoon.

- If that's what you want, Mr. Lorenzo. - It is.

The first day I saw you, Maria just looking at you,

I thought that not in Boston in the States, nor at Ottawa,

had I seen a girl like you.

Maria... Maria, I only came back because of you.

Even though it's a long trip.

To tell you what I had to tell you.

And... to find out what you would answer.

This is

not a place for you, Maria. Life is too hard. Work, too.

You die just to earn a living.

You've always lived here. So you can't imagine what it's like elsewhere.

You can't know.

Streets with sidewalks as big as a room.

Houses everywhere.

And then... the electric chariots.

The stores full of lights at night.

And all the fun you can have, theaters, moving picture shows.

You don't know, Maria, the moving picture shows, where you see all countries,

countries where it's always sunny. It's because I love you, Maria.

If you would marry me... If only you would,

I would take you wonderful places. I earn enough for two.

You don't need to say yes right away.

I will come back, Maria.

You will come back, Lorenzo?

You know how much friendship I feel for you, Maria.

I hadn't said anything to you before

because I figured you liked Fran�ois Paradis the most.

But since he's dead now, and that other boy from the city is after you,

I told myself that I could try my luck too.

Cities aren't made for people like us.

The friendship I feel for you, Maria...

Mr. Gagnon. My mother is very sick.

It started up this morning in her kidneys. She couldn't even get out of bed.

Do you still have those pills you ordered last year?

- Pills? - Yes.

Yes, Maria.

It's good medicine, from the States.

Thank you. If the roads weren't so bad, we'd have gone to the doctor.

I'll come with you. I don't believe in doctors anyway. A bonesetter is better.

- I'll fetch the one from St-F�licien. - Good, thanks.

Dear God. Everything hurts.

My head is burning. I'm going to die.

You'll die when God wants you to die.

And I don't think it's that time yet. What would he do with you?

Paradise is full of old women. And we only have the one here.

She can still be useful sometimes.

- Go see how the roads are. I need to go fetch the doctor. - Yes, my father.

Oh, what thirst. Maria, bring me some cool water. I'm dying of thirst.

Yes, yes, my mother. Yes.

- I'm going to fetch some water. - I'll come with you, Maria.

- Maria, I'd like to tell you... - No, no, Eutrope.

- Now is not the time for such talk. - Please, Maria...

The road is cut off. My father won't be able to reach the main road.

I would like so much to clear some land just for you, Maria. Some beautiful land.

Some land where there is hardship all day long.

That's how I wanted to make my life.

But I didn't think of you, Laura.

You could have lived like they do in the parishes, with fields around the house

as far as the eye can see.

The two of us, alone with our beautiful friendship...

while waiting for children, who would love us... and who would help us.

Here we are, along with our children, in a half-wild place,

far from other houses and churches, and so close to the woods

that we can hear the foxes yelp at night.

With you... always so supportive,

and of good cheer,

we would arrive, without a single cross or mean word,

to the end of our life.

And we would have no regrets.

Water...

Ah, this is unbearable.

Oh my God. Now I know for sure that I'm going to die.

And it is my fault. My fault. Surely.

No, Samuel. Don't have any regrets.

Yes, it's my fault.

We are here, watching you suffer, and we can do nothing.

I can't tell you anything, Eutrope.

Neither yes, nor no. Not now.

I have promised nothing to no one. You must wait.

I'll get through anyway and I'll bring him back, the doctor.

Tomorrow, I'll be back with Mr. Massicot.

- And he will heal you. - No, Samuel, no...

Make sure your mother doesn't fuss too much and worsen her condition.

I'll try to get to Peribonka.

Maria, I told you my idea. I don't believe in doctors.

I'll go fetch Tit'S�be, you know, the bonesetter.

He didn't go to school, but he sure knows how to heal people.

- Then I'll see you tomorrow. - Yes, thanks, see you.

Giddyup!

Go on! Charles-Eug�ne!

That means by next spring, I'll have at least... 1000 bucks saved.

Then I'll come back.

We would make a fine life in the cities, without hardship.

You don't need to say yes right away, Maria.

I will come back.

With you, always so supportive,

and of good cheer,

we would arrive, without a single cross or mean word,

to the end of our life, and we would have no regrets.

You mustn't make yourself sick like this, mother

like people who have the means.

It's a sure thing. I'm going to die.

That doctor is a big simpleton who doesn't know what to do.

She needs peace and quiet, without taking anything.

I'll come back tomorrow.

Hello.

Hello, Samuel.

Hello, sir.

Well, well...

Ah... good mother.

- Is it there? - Yes?

No, I won't hurt you. Don't move.

Don't move. And here?

That's odd... Don't move, good mother.

No, no, no. I won't hurt you.

I won't hurt you.

Ah... yes.

Ah, there's nothing I can do.

The sickness is inside the body, a sickness I don't know.

I could put some black flies to draw out the blood.

It would make her feel better for a while.

I could give her a potion made with beaver kidneys, but...

that wouldn't heal her. Not the black flies, nor the potion.

Ah well... if God wishes, she is going to die.

See you tomorrow. I'll take your sleigh.

My God, you gave me the gift of healing broken bones.

But not the gift of healing

ills like this.

So I'm forced to let this poor woman die.

The doctor is back.

Welcome

father.

The doctor told me he couldn't do anything,

so I came.

Even you are here, Nazaire.

Did you come to visit like when I was a young girl and lived in Saint-Prime?

You used to make me laugh, you handsome devil.

You used to sing... Do you remember?

Sing it, Nazaire...

Sing!

Won't it be fun Won't it be fun

Well! But it's Ab�lard Perron.

And Cl�ophas Pesant.

And Louise Tremblay. And Wilfrid Bouchard.

You've really all come tonight.

What a lovely party.

Sing, Nazaire Larouche. Sing for me...

"Marianne At The Mill"

Marianne went to the mill Marianne went to the mill

To have her grain ground up To have her grain ground up

In all the counties There are girls and boys

Who want to marry It's the honest truth

GOOD NIGHT, MY FRIENDS, GOOD NIGHT GOOD NIGHT, MY FRIENDS, GOOD NIGHT

GOOD NIGHT, MY FRIENDS, GOOD NIGHT, MY FRIENDS, GOOD NIGHT

If we are so good together

If we are so good together

Should we ever part?

GOOD NIGHT, MY FRIENDS, GOOD NIGHT

GOOD NIGHT, MY FRIENDS, GOOD NIGHT, MY FRIENDS, GOOD NIGHT

GOODBYE.

Winter is over. Spring is here. I hear the falls.

- It's over. - It's a great loss.

You were well wived, Samuel.

No one can say the contrary.

Your mother was a good woman, Maria.

A woman without peers.

Come on, Charles-Eug�ne!

And I see some here who despair,

and who are ready to curse the Lord.

They have lived all year long in a lonely place.

They have suffered and they have slaved away.

And now, they tell themselves, "Why?"

"Why stay here since this country is so harsh?"

Let them listen to the voice of the land of Quebec speaking to them.

It tells them, We came here 300 years ago.

We came from France and we stayed.

We have forgotten nothing. Not our prayers, nor our songs.

Around us, others also came.

Strangers.

But in the land of Quebec, nothing has changed.

And nothing will change. For we bear witness.

Others came.

They seized power, they had money.

But we, we have abided.

So that centuries from now, the world will turn towards us and say,

"Those people are of a breed that doesn't know how to die. "

This is why we must

stay in the province where our fathers stayed.

and live as they lived, to obey the silent commandment

that formed in their hearts

and passed into ours.

We in turn must pass it on to many children:

In the land of Quebec, nothing must die

and nothing must change.

- You're leaving, Mr. Lorenzo? - Yes, Mr. Chapdelaine.

I'm going back to the city, and the factory tomorrow.

- Goodbye, and good luck. - Thank you, Mr. Chapdelaine.

Goodbye, Miss Maria.

Everything is ready, Mr. Chapdelaine.

I will never forget you, Maria.

- Are you still thinking of leaving for the city, Maria? - No, Eutrope.

- We must hurry, Maria. The children are alone at home. - Yes, my father.

Goodbye, Eutrope.

- Will you come visit some evening? - Yes, Maria. I'm so alone.

We will talk, then.

And... if you still want to, well...

the spring after next,

when the men come back from the woods for sowing season,

I will marry you.