Cod Help Us
This is a documentary on our former home and the plight of the village where my family and I lived for 4 years. Two years after our arrival the following happened. (For those with high speed click on the title and watch the 22 min movie)
COD HELP US
Cast (Subjects of Documentary): Residents of St-Paul’s River, QC (English speaking)
Credits:
Produced, Directed & Filmed by Ezra Soiferman
Edited by Mika Goodfriend
Music by Residents of St-Paul’s River. Additional music by Finest Kind and Bud Davidge.
Developed with the assistance of the NFB, NFB CitizenShift and the CBC TransCanada Development Fund.
©2005 Perpetuum Productions
Screnings to date:
San Francisco Ocean Film Festival, CA - January, 2006
Canadian Heritage, Montreal - February, 2006
Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, CA - Summer, 2006
Gray’s Reef Ocean Film Festival, Savannah, GA - September, 2006
DVD distributed by: The National Film Board of Canada, www.nfb.ca/store
Synopsis:
Faced with what seems like an insurmountable fisheries collapse, the 450 residents of Quebec's tiny and isolated St-Paul's River must quickly decide what their future holds. Often overlooked, the little known Lower North Shore region of Quebec, where St-Paul’s River lies, is known as the birthplace of North America’s traditional cod fishery. It is now also known as “the forgotten shore”.
This far-flung area on the easternmost tip of Quebec and the northern end of the Gulf of St-Lawrence is up against the same dwindling fishing industry as Canada’s Maritime provinces, but with far less media attention or government representation.
The film COD HELP US paints a revealing portrait of the residents of St-Paul’s River and examines their plans for survival. Can they stick it out through these hard times or must they leave their beloved village for good? Through frank interviews, scenic panoramas and lively fishing expeditions, award-winning Montreal filmmaker Ezra Soiferman (Man Of Grease, Tree Weeks) paints a stark portrait of what it’s like to be a villager in this community.
Now that plans to build a tourism industry are underway, the residents have banded together to kick-start what they hope will be a bright future. But can they make it happen? Only time will tell.
COD HELP US
Cast (Subjects of Documentary): Residents of St-Paul’s River, QC (English speaking)
Credits:
Produced, Directed & Filmed by Ezra Soiferman
Edited by Mika Goodfriend
Music by Residents of St-Paul’s River. Additional music by Finest Kind and Bud Davidge.
Developed with the assistance of the NFB, NFB CitizenShift and the CBC TransCanada Development Fund.
©2005 Perpetuum Productions
Screnings to date:
San Francisco Ocean Film Festival, CA - January, 2006
Canadian Heritage, Montreal - February, 2006
Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, CA - Summer, 2006
Gray’s Reef Ocean Film Festival, Savannah, GA - September, 2006
DVD distributed by: The National Film Board of Canada, www.nfb.ca/store
Synopsis:
Faced with what seems like an insurmountable fisheries collapse, the 450 residents of Quebec's tiny and isolated St-Paul's River must quickly decide what their future holds. Often overlooked, the little known Lower North Shore region of Quebec, where St-Paul’s River lies, is known as the birthplace of North America’s traditional cod fishery. It is now also known as “the forgotten shore”.
This far-flung area on the easternmost tip of Quebec and the northern end of the Gulf of St-Lawrence is up against the same dwindling fishing industry as Canada’s Maritime provinces, but with far less media attention or government representation.
The film COD HELP US paints a revealing portrait of the residents of St-Paul’s River and examines their plans for survival. Can they stick it out through these hard times or must they leave their beloved village for good? Through frank interviews, scenic panoramas and lively fishing expeditions, award-winning Montreal filmmaker Ezra Soiferman (Man Of Grease, Tree Weeks) paints a stark portrait of what it’s like to be a villager in this community.
Now that plans to build a tourism industry are underway, the residents have banded together to kick-start what they hope will be a bright future. But can they make it happen? Only time will tell.
5 Comments:
UGH! Wasn't is fantastic? The first time I watched it I just cried and cried and cried. It's making me desperately homesick, I hope to go back home maybe next September, but I don't know if I can honestly wait that long! I NEED SEAFOODS! x_x
Hi Douglas,
Indeed it is a wonderful documentary. Having met many of the people in the film during my visits to the Coast,I was particularly touched.I have seen it four times and tears well up in my eyes each time, especially during that last song. You can add one more screening to your list.It was shown this morning to the Official Languages Committee of the Quebec Federal Council.Ironically the subject of the meeting today was community vitality. In this case, I think it is more a question of community survival than vitality. What I know however is that the people of the Coast are a resilient people and they will overcome this difficult time as they have many times throughout their history. I only hope that they receive the support (federal and otherwise) that they require.
My friends, I watched it again and did the same, I cried and cried, for the situation and for the friends. I remembered Chris in the video who I buried last May and cried for his family who lost Randy this year as well. I still miss the Coast! I love my new home but no one can ever take the Coast out of you. One day we'll have a cabin on the islands!
Charles please give Mme A. my best and know that you continue to be a friend in Christ! Blessings to you all.
SEAFOOD [cry and Cry and CRY!!!] Nothin here but Captin Highliner.
Captain.... highliner. O_O
*throws a fit*
Loved the film.
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