Battle of the Brave
In the mid-18th Century, as England and France battle over control of Canada, an epic romance between a peasant woman and a trapper unfurls. Prejudice, perfidy, love, and bravery in Québec. In 1779,…
Battle of the Brave
In the mid-18th Century, as England and France battle over control of Canada, an epic romance between a peasant woman and a trapper unfurls. Prejudice, perfidy, love, and bravery in Québec. In 1779, a priest on his deathbed receives a young woman. Flash back 20 years: Marie-Loup, an herb-dispensing peasant, falls for François, a man of property. The priest's perfidy and the treachery of a soldier separate the lovers and set in motion a chain of events leading to a death, a trial, and an execution. The action unfolds against a backdrop of England's take-over of French-Canada, the Church's manipulations to maintain spiritual hegemony, and the limited rights of woman and indigenous peoples. Watching it all is Marie-Loup's daughter, named France, who, when grown, is the dying priest's visitor in prelude and coda. —<jhailey@hotmail.com> Trapper François (David LA HAYE) returns to his hometown to visit his father. Unfortunately, his father has just died and François is clueless in regards to the business he just inherited. He trusts his father's lawyer will take care of everything including the claims of creditors who have demanded an investigation. Like his friend Xavier (Sébastien HUBERDEAU) before François soon develops a crush on Marie-Loup (Noémie GODIN-VIGNEAU), the town's healer. He is delighted when he sees her protecting an Indian girl (Bianca GERVAIS) against a racist. Both share a deep sympathy for the local tribe and speak its language fluently. Unlike Xavier, who serves the local authorities, François is successful. But after he has become Marie-Loup's lover, he is forced to escape. Right now the local authorities have discovered illegal affairs of his recently inherited company and they hold him responsible. François hides in the woods among friendly Indians and lets them deliver a letter to Marie-Loup. He is waiting for her to join him, so they can run away together. Unfortunately, she cannot read and needs to ask the local priest (Gérard DEPARDIEU) what François has written. The priest tells Marie-Loup she had been forsaken by François and then to forget him. After some time, convinced François must be dead, the desperate Marie-Loup complies with the marriage ceremony but then refuses Xavier his conjugal rights. In the meantime, she discovers François is still alive, realizing the priest's betrayal, and the lovers reunite. After she has denied her husband for weeks, Xavier and his henchman ambush François in the woods. He blames his rival for his misfortune and following a fierce fight he leaves him for dead after stepping in a bear trap. On his return to Marie-Loup, the still furious Xavier utters threats. He does not survive this day. Xavier's comrades refuse to accept Xavier's death as an accident. Marie-Loup gets accused of murder and witchcraft. François tries and fails to save her and only gets himself arrested. The British authorities, who have meanwhile taken over the formerly French colony, refrain from interfering in this matter for fear to rekindle hostilities. In an epilogue, the priest finishes his recollection, dies and we realize how Xavier died and the fact that François still loves and misses Marie-Loup. Her grown daughter, France, has been adopted by François and obviously both care for each and mourn Marie-Loup every day.
Battle of the Brave
Drama,History,Romance
Film Details
In the mid-18th Century, as England and France battle over control of Canada, an epic romance between a peasant woman and a trapper unfurls. Prejudice, perfidy, love, and bravery in Québec. In 1779, a priest on his deathbed receives a young woman.
Flash back 20 years: Marie-Loup, an herb-dispensing peasant, falls for François, a man of property. The priest's perfidy and the treachery of a soldier separate the lovers and set in motion a chain of events leading to a death, a trial, and an execution. The action unfolds against a backdrop of England's take-over of French-Canada, the Church's manipulations to maintain spiritual hegemony, and the limited rights of woman and indigenous peoples.
Watching it all is Marie-Loup's daughter, named France, who, when grown, is the dying priest's visitor in prelude and coda. —<jhailey@hotmail.com> Trapper François (David LA HAYE) returns to his hometown to visit his father. Unfortunately, his father has just died and François is clueless in regards to the business he just inherited.
He trusts his father's lawyer will take care of everything including the claims of creditors who have demanded an investigation. Like his friend Xavier (Sébastien HUBERDEAU) before François soon develops a crush on Marie-Loup (Noémie GODIN-VIGNEAU), the town's healer. He is delighted when he sees her protecting an Indian girl (Bianca GERVAIS) against a racist.
Both share a deep sympathy for the local tribe and speak its language fluently. Unlike Xavier, who serves the local authorities, François is successful. But after he has become Marie-Loup's lover, he is forced to escape.
Right now the local authorities have discovered illegal affairs of his recently inherited company and they hold him responsible. François hides in the woods among friendly Indians and lets them deliver a letter to Marie-Loup. He is waiting for her to join him, so they can run away together.
Unfortunately, she cannot read and needs to ask the local priest (Gérard DEPARDIEU) what François has written. The priest tells Marie-Loup she had been forsaken by François and then to forget him. After some time, convinced François must be dead, the desperate Marie-Loup complies with the marriage ceremony but then refuses Xavier his conjugal rights.
In the meantime, she discovers François is still alive, realizing the priest's betrayal, and the lovers reunite. After she has denied her husband for weeks, Xavier and his henchman ambush François in the woods. He blames his rival for his misfortune and following a fierce fight he leaves him for dead after stepping in a bear trap.
On his return to Marie-Loup, the still furious Xavier utters threats. He does not survive this day. Xavier's comrades refuse to accept Xavier's death as an accident.
Marie-Loup gets accused of murder and witchcraft. François tries and fails to save her and only gets himself arrested. The British authorities, who have meanwhile taken over the formerly French colony, refrain from interfering in this matter for fear to rekindle hostilities.
In an epilogue, the priest finishes his recollection, dies and we realize how Xavier died and the fact that François still loves and misses Marie-Loup. Her grown daughter, France, has been adopted by François and obviously both care for each and mourn Marie-Loup every day..