Original subtitles

Mister Aquin, the first article I think I read of yours

must be now... twelve years ago, or thereabouts

and you spoke of the cultural fatigue of French Canada

that the culture was tired and worn out.

Do you still think that?

When I wrote this article I thought that

it was quite the accurate definition

of the state of culture in Quebec

and I... Now I have to think very much to adjust this thought to now.

But what I think that I was writing at that period

I was writing in a sort of pre-revolutionary period.

And there has been no revolution after that.

- Not even a cultural revolution?

- No.

- I mean, look at the... the vivacity of the culture of Quebec

now... to which you yourself contributed.

Many new novels, much new poetry, films and so on.

But that's not a revolution?

- Not if I consider that the Chinese Cultural Revolution

is a pattern to examine the revolutions of the others

I don't think so.

It may come... It is probably always about to come.

but this process is very slow in Quebec

but I think it's maturing slowly, that's it.

It's not necessarily postponed indefinitely.

This is a political website, and I am a politician.

But I would really rather not spend too much of my time and yours talking about politics.

but I will try to keep the ranting to a minimum

I know first hand that politics can be a wonderful force

Courageous decisions taken in parliament in the past have opened this country to the world

signed us on to international accords and alliances,

protected individual rights and freedoms, created the health care system,

and generally improved in countless ways

the daily lives of both Canadians and our communities.

Across this country, there has been an awakening,

as individuals are beginning to realize just how powerful each of us is,

and that everyone has the ability to improve the world around them.

But more, as citizens living in one of the best places on Earth,

it becomes our responsibility to use that good fortune,

to help generate solutions for the world…

And what about the young people demonstrating in the streets?

- Who?

I don't know.

I don’t see them in my neighbourhood.

- Where do you live?

- Where do you think I live? Chinatown, right?

No! The Chinese don't really live there, you know...

Me, I live in Côte-Des-Neiges!

But you have heard about the young people and their demonstrations, right ?

I mean...

You must have seen them downtown?

I have... But I don't understand why they're doing this.

Can you open your legs a bit more?

To me those students, they mix up everything.

Some even want Quebec separation.

And what do you think about that?

I don’t know... It’s not my business.

It is your business. You live here!

Well... I wonder sometimes,

who are they, the Quebecers? Are they not Canadians?

I never understand. Nobody wants to explain me.

Nobody I know, they understand too…

Me, I come to live here in Canada.

People who live here are Canadians? No?

See? Even you don’t know!

I just... don’t understand.

What is missing?

People here are rich, are free...

No war...

What more they want?

Why they want to leave?

They want to give up all this?

Maybe they just want to exist?

Me and my family, we want to exist too.

This is why we run from starvation and dictators.

This is the first time I have a client like you.

Ok.

Are you born like this?

But you could not choose? Like the people here?

No, that’s not it.

It’s just...

That’s how I am, you know?

Well... My reading of that novel makes me think that

you already had come to the conclusion that the prospect of revolution was...

at least very doubtful.

You were very ambiguous about what the next episode would be.

The narrator was doubtful, I don’t think I was.

But I would say that I projected upon the...

you know, huh… personnage…

a figure that is quite doubtful,

quite hesitant and quite foolish and…

Yes.

- But he’s hesitating about whether or not violence is...

is desirable or.. - Yes!

necessary or even... even possible.

- Yes.

But that’s... that’s the narrator.

- That’s the narrator, yes.

Yes. I was saying at that time - I remember that - that huh…

a person would ask me “is violence inevitable?”

I would say