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.