André (Dédé) Fortin founded and fronted
Montreal band Les Colocs through the ’90s. He fought both
external—bandmates, Quebec’s robust music business, his province’s
independence—and internal—depression, lust for women—battles.
Despite some uneven use of animation, the film shows how the battle
lines in Dédé’s life cross; how the personal,
professional and political fronts feed each other. Sébastien
Ricard’s performance must, and does, transition naturally from
Dédé’s headlong run into conflict and then desperate run
from responsibility for the carnage he causes. Ricard inhabits his
character’s headspace, his behaviour in relationships, particularly
with his friend and creative inspiration (Dimitri Storoge, who renders
his role as a casualty burning out rather than rusting, quietly and
without overindulgence). Whether in studio or on stage, shots, sets and
clothing are carefully calibrated and detailed. In the end,
Dédé wins a few battles, but the war is lost. This film,
which just screened at the Atlantic Film Festival, offers suitable
remembrance.
This article appears in Sep 24-30, 2009.