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Ville-Marie

1965 27 min
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Today it is the city of Montreal, but 3 centuries ago the tiny band of missionary founders called it Ville-Marie, the holy city of Mary. This film goes back to its beginning and those who felt called to plant an oasis of Christianity in the North American wilderness. In an imaginative, at times almost surrealistic, way the film recalls the highborn company from France, and shows what survives of Ville-Marie in the Montreal of today.

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Ville-Marie

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Today it is the city of Montreal, but 3 centuries ago the tiny band of missionary founders called it Ville-Marie, the holy city of Mary. This film goes back to its beginning and those who felt called to plant an oasis of Christianity in the North American wilderness. In an imaginative, at times almost surrealistic, way the film recalls the highborn company from France, and shows what survives of Ville-Marie in the Montreal of today.

Religion, Beliefs and Ethics History - Canada - Pre-1867 All subjects
  • director
    Denys Arcand
  • executive producer
    André Belleau
  • script
    Andrée Thibault
  • camera
    Bernard Gosselin
    Michel Brault
    Jacques Leduc
  • editing
    Monique Fortier
  • sound editing
    Pierre Bernier
  • music
    Pierre Henry
    Pierre Schaeffer
    Donald Mackey

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Education

Ages 14 to 17
School subjects
History - Early Colonization/Settlement Indigenous Studies - History/Politics Media Education - Documentary Film Social Studies - Social History
Have Canadian history students research missionary campaigns in Canada, examining their documentation in history books and media. Ask elementary students to put characters “on trial,” debating the idea of “conversion” and the treatment of Aboriginals. Ask language arts/English students to “write” some Aboriginal journals. Have media students examine the film’s bias through vocabulary such as “Indians,” and the model shoot. Compare the director’s past work to his contemporary films.
Ville-Marie
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