
The Historical Imaginary
Quebec National Cinema in the Twenty-First Century
Amy J. Ransom(Author)
University of Toronto Press
Published on 20. February 2026
Book
Hardback
312 pages
978-1-4875-6096-6 (ISBN)
Description
Since the year 2000, Quebec's film industry has burgeoned with a parabolic increase in the number of films released and the production of a wide array of film genres. Building on the notion of 'Quebec national cinema' outlined by Bill Marshall, this book analyses French-language fiction features that construct images of the past.
Scholar of Quebec cultural studies, Amy J. Ransom, explains how the studied films participate in the nation's 'historical imaginary', revisiting and revisioning the past for present-day audiences and constructing new 'sites of memory' for twenty-first-century Quebecois viewers. Each chapter examines a film genre explicitly engaged in representing the past: the historical film per se, the historical fantasy, the literary adaptation, the biopic and memoir, and the period film. The Historical Imaginary offers analyses of significant films and filmmakers while also providing a broader overview of these genres' development in Quebec. From examining rigorous historical documents like Le 15 fevrier, 1839 (2001) to quirky fantasies like Je me souviens (2009), and from the heritage films Nouvelle France (2004) and Maria Chapdaleine (2021) to the biopics Louis Cyr, l'homme le plus fort du monde (2013) and La Bolduc (2018), Ransom's analyses travel across time, space, and genres.
In this insightful cultural investigation, three generations of filmmakers are brought together to highlight their influence upon the construction of a Quebecois national identity.
Scholar of Quebec cultural studies, Amy J. Ransom, explains how the studied films participate in the nation's 'historical imaginary', revisiting and revisioning the past for present-day audiences and constructing new 'sites of memory' for twenty-first-century Quebecois viewers. Each chapter examines a film genre explicitly engaged in representing the past: the historical film per se, the historical fantasy, the literary adaptation, the biopic and memoir, and the period film. The Historical Imaginary offers analyses of significant films and filmmakers while also providing a broader overview of these genres' development in Quebec. From examining rigorous historical documents like Le 15 fevrier, 1839 (2001) to quirky fantasies like Je me souviens (2009), and from the heritage films Nouvelle France (2004) and Maria Chapdaleine (2021) to the biopics Louis Cyr, l'homme le plus fort du monde (2013) and La Bolduc (2018), Ransom's analyses travel across time, space, and genres.
In this insightful cultural investigation, three generations of filmmakers are brought together to highlight their influence upon the construction of a Quebecois national identity.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Toronto
Canada
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
10 illustrations - 10 b&w illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 159 mm
Width: 238 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
560 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4875-6096-6 (9781487560966)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Amy J. Ransom is an associate professor of French at Central Michigan University.
Content
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Quebec National Cinema in the New Millennium: Between Hollywood and the World
Chapter 1: "Faithful" Representations of the Past: Franco-Nationalist Sites of Memory on Film
Chapter 2: Stretching the Historical Imaginary: Revisiting Sites of Memory in Historical Fantasy
Chapter 3: Adapting the Grande Noirceur to the Screen: The Roman du Terroir and the Quebec Heritage Film
Chapter 4: Creating New Sites of Memory: The Rise of the Biopic in Twenty-first-century Quebec
Chapter 5: "Enthralling Narratives of Bittersweet Reminiscence": Memoirs and Period Pieces
Conclusion
Works Cited
Filmography
Index
Introduction: Quebec National Cinema in the New Millennium: Between Hollywood and the World
Chapter 1: "Faithful" Representations of the Past: Franco-Nationalist Sites of Memory on Film
Chapter 2: Stretching the Historical Imaginary: Revisiting Sites of Memory in Historical Fantasy
Chapter 3: Adapting the Grande Noirceur to the Screen: The Roman du Terroir and the Quebec Heritage Film
Chapter 4: Creating New Sites of Memory: The Rise of the Biopic in Twenty-first-century Quebec
Chapter 5: "Enthralling Narratives of Bittersweet Reminiscence": Memoirs and Period Pieces
Conclusion
Works Cited
Filmography
Index