North

Director: Jean-Daniel Lafond – Producer: Rene Gueissaz – Diary by: Joanne Latimer

Spring 1988: While filming La Maniere Negre in Montreal and Martinique, independent documentarian Jean-Daniel Lafond begins formulating questions about the identity of Quebecers for his next film project, Tropic North.

‘I wanted to define Quebec from the point of view of an outsider. Originally I am from France, but I moved here over 20 years ago. As a neo-Quebecer, a writer, a filmmaker and philosopher, my situation is, I think, particular,’ Lafond says. ‘And as a French-speaking immigrant, I think I was a little closer to the roots of Quebec than other new arrivals. Now, I am really a Quebecer, yet every day I have to prove that.’

April 1989: Lafond begins writing the scenario as an independent for his production company, Majda Films International, with the help of a Canada Council grant and a non-theatrical grant from the Secretariat of State of Multiculturalism Canada.

Lafond’s script questions the nationalist goal of striving to define, and find, a ‘pure Quebecer.’ Tropic North follows the thoughts of a black female journalist in Montreal who was born in Haiti as she examines the issues of ethnicity and racism in the city.

January 1992: Rene Gueissaz of acpav, who worked with Lafond on La Maniere Negre, becomes the film’s producer. Working on a budget of $370,000, filming takes place over the winter months, ending in April 1993.

Lafond says Tropic North makes use of the ‘black and white’ irony of filming black Montrealers in the snowy winter. It also looks with irony at the luxurious Montreal condominium called Tropic North, with its all-white population.

September 1993: After spending five months editing, Lafond screens Tropic North for TV5 and Radio-Canada. Both provide funds for post-production. sogic and Telefilm Canada also supply funding at this point for the final cut, which takes Lafond only two weeks to complete.

February 1994: Tropic North, dedicated to Claude Jutra, has its premiere at Montreal’s Rendez-vous du Cinema and prompts a spontaneous two-hour debate.

September 1994: Tropic North is screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.