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The Free Ones

Nicolas Lévesque / 2020 / 94 min. / 52 min. / Canada / FRENCH / SUBS ENGLISH

Synopsis

The Free Ones is a full-length documentary feature which shows us how four detainees are dealing with the end of their prison sentence, in a sawmill. Can a factory job help them to make the necessary transformation and become free men? Hidden from society’s view and through meetings with their instructors, psychotherapists and other participants, we accompany Samuel, Pierrot, Fred and Steve talk about their hopes and fears during this six-month transition period.

Cast & Crew

Screenplay : Nicolas Lévesque
Cinematographer : Jean-Philippe Archibald
Editor : Natacha Dufaux
Sound : Jean-Philippe Archibald et Nicolas Lévesque
Sound mix : Stéphane Bergeron
Sound editor : Olivier Calvert
Music : Ron Baines,James Thomas Bates, Yehezkel Raz, John Bax, B. Deshayes, Taktika, ANBR, Quebec Redneck Bluegrass Project, BAM Library, Artlist
Production : Canopée

Genre

Documentaire

Topics

Social reintegration, Work

Trailer

Biography

Nicolas Lévesque is a Canadian photographer and filmmaker. His documentary projects led him to document various parts of the world, between the Americas, Europe and his home in Quebec. His images are the subject of exhibitions and projects of award-winning editions such as LUTTE (Editions la Peuplade) and Derniers souverains (Editions Poètes de Brousse). His documentary film In guns we trust was honored Best Short Film at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2013, as well as Interview with a Free Man, in 2015, produced by the National Film Board of Canada. After his documentary We hunt seals, he is currently producing a new documentary film, The Free Ones, following the release of detainees in search of a new life. Since 2010, he has collaborated regularly with Télé-Québec, TV5, RDI and Radio-Canada in the production of documentaries for television.

Filmography

2019

Rich in Bollywood / 17 min.
2018

Chasseurs de phoques / 69 min.
2015

Entrevue avec un homme libre / 7 min.
2013

In gun we trust / 12 min.

Festivals

- 2020 -
In competition | Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal, Canada

- 2021 -
In competition | Festival Vues sur mer, Canada
In competition | Rendez-Vous Québec Cinéma, Canada
In competition | DOK.fest München, Germany
In competition | Cinéma du monde de Sherbrooke, Canada
In competition | Moscow International Documentary Film Festival DOKer, Russia

- 2022 -
In competition | Cinema on the Bayou, USA
In competition | SR - Socially Relevant Film Festival New York, USA

Awards

- 2020 -
Prix Cineli Digital | Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes, France

Photos

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