NFB Honors Quebec film director Gilles Carle

MONTREAL: The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is paying tribute to the life and work of Quebec film director Gilles Carle, who passed away on Saturday, by making eight of his films available on NFB.ca, in French.

Carle spent part of his early career at the NFB. From 1961 to 1966, he directed a number of documentaries for the Board, along with his first feature film, La vie heureuse de Léopold Z (The Merry World of Leopold Z), released in 1965. He later moved on from the NFB to delve into a career in the private sector. In 1978, he began collaborating with the NFB again, primarily on documentaries, including 50 ans, made in honor of the NFB’s 50th anniversary. Over the years, Carle directed 16 NFB productions and co-productions.

The eight films available on the NFB’s website are Dimanche d’Amérique (1961), Patinoire (1963), La vie heureuse de Léopold Z (1965), L’âge de la machine (1978), Manger (1961), Un air de famille (1963), Percé on the Rocks (1964) and Solange dans nos campagnes (1964).

Many of the films Carle directed at the NFB are also available at the CineRobotheque in Montreal and the Toronto Mediatheque, both at individual viewing stations and on DVD. 

Tom Perlmutter, the government film commissioner and chairperson of the NFB, commented: “Gilles Carle was a true builder. Along with many other members of the NFB’s French team in the 1960s—people such as Michel Brault, Gilles Groulx, Arthur Lamothe and Pierre Perrault—he was at the heart of the emerging world of Quebec film. He was deeply attached to his roots and offered an authentic look at Quebecers—bringing them to the screen with daring and humor, and painting a vibrant and unforgettable picture. His powerful and unique works remain a crucial part of our cinematographic heritage.”