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      The Legacy

      2009 1h 36m Drama List
      Reviews 67% Audience Score 50+ Ratings Dr. Jeanne Dion must decide whether to remain a small-town physician or return to the city. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

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      Liam Lacey Globe and Mail Like the great French director Robert Bresson, mond aims for a simplicity of style that records the pedestrian facts of life while suggesting deeper meanings about the human place in the order of things. Rated: 3/4 Jan 29, 2010 Full Review Liz Braun Jam! Movies A meditation on charity that is both exhilarating and hopeful. Rated: 4/5 Feb 2, 2010 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member Bernard Ãmondâ(TM)s final film in his trilogy about the three theological virtues, La Donation, attempts to find a secular meaning for the philosophy. Even if one is a non-believer, like M. Ãmond, he would like them to use nearly two thousand years of teachings in order to do well for themselves and others. La Donation follows Jeanne Dion as she first moves to the small town of Normà (C)tal in Abitibi in order to replace an old doctor named Yves Rainville for a month and later documents her decision about whether or not to stay after he suddenly dies. Since the forestry and mining industries left, Normà (C)tal has been deserted, shrinking in population from over three thousand to under nine hundred. Though he first moved to the town as a company doctor, Dr. Rainville decided to stay because he became attached to his patients, who are scattered across the region. Dr. Dion does not know if she can work in the same situation, as watching very bad events befall her patients affects her emotionally. M. Ãmond told the Q and A that although he understands that cinema is fake, he tries to create very real situations. The entire film was shot on location - apparently several lighting problems were created by the northern environment (and resolved) - so it showcases the solitary beauty of Abitibi, along with the solitary desperation of the town and its citizens. Eventually, Dr. Dion becomes enamored with the natural milieu and begins to see changes among her patients. Though there still may be occasional steps back, she chooses to move forward with her life. Charity, defined as a voluntary and selfless gift to others, is a virtue that anyone, religious or not, can follow in order to better themselves and the community around them. Ãmond uses many still shots in order to focus on the calm skies, clear waters, and dense forest in the background and the slow pace of life. He spent several months in Normà (C)tal and wants to show the beauty that it still retains to his audience. The country is sparse; characters often take time to reflect upon their surroundings and themselves. Trees first cleared by the logging industry have grown back and abandoned mines have been covered up. As one character says, âeven after a while, the wilderness has won.â? Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Un peu comme un long à (C)pisode de "L'instit" ou de "Louis la brocante", sauf qu'elle est mà (C)decin et que ça se passe en Abitibi. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Beautiful slice of life film with nuanced performances. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Magnifique! À voir absolument! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member An utterly beautiful film! All about how and why we connect . . . to our surroundings . . . to the people we meet on our journey. . . . and perhaps most importantly, with who we are inside. The acting is exquisitely subtle. See this wonderful Canadian film! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Si toutes les histoires ne sont pas d'un intérêt égales, elles sont tous d'une grande justesse et d'une magnifique et touchante sensibilité. Pour cela il peut compter sur de bonnes performances qui savent ressortir le plus beau de la douleur et de la souffrance, mais également de la présence de la lumineuse Élise Guilbault. La simplicité mériterait peut-être à être un peu resserré ou à trouver un autre aspect technique, un peu à la manière Japonaise.. Mais bon. Le film touche bien sa cible. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Legacy

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Dr. Jeanne Dion must decide whether to remain a small-town physician or return to the city.
      Director
      Bernard Émond
      Screenwriter
      Bernard Émond
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      French (Canada)
      Release Date (DVD)
      Mar 4, 2014
      Runtime
      1h 36m