So, you thought the Barbarian Invasions were great

This afternoon, on Canal D, a kind of Québécois A&E, I catched Réjeanne Padovani, oscar winner Denys Arcand's second commercial movie. It's the third time I see it, and I still find that it's Arcand's most moving piece. It's about a small party hosted by a mobster (Vincent Padovani) to celebrate the obtaining of a government contract to build a freeway. Both the provincial minister of transport and the city's mayor are in attendance. Oh, and a police bodyguard, three of Padovani's henchmen, two prostitutes & a couple of wives. And Vincent's ex-wife, Réjeanne Padovani (the late, great Luce Guilbeault.

It's awfully slow, it's awfully dark, it's awfully good.

It's kind of like La maudite galette without the first 30 minutes. But that's another story.