This feature doc tells the story of the improbable friendship between acclaimed Quebec singer Félix Leclerc and the intriguing Frank Randolph Macpherson. A chemical engineer from Jamaica, Macpherson immigrated to Quebec in 1917 and was the inspiration for the popular song that Leclerc named after him. But this is also a story about memory: it was animator Martine Chartrand’s memory of this song that compelled her to create the striking animated short MacPherson, made by filming paintings on glass using 35mm film. A sympathetic look at an artist at work, Finding Macpherson takes audiences on a personal journey, exploring the …
Ideal for essays and debates on African-Canadian history and cultural history. Why is the story of Frank Macpherson compelling for animator Martine Chartrand? Compare her animated film with the song by Félix Leclerc and the history recounted in this film. How do the different versions tell different stories? Discuss the role of the artist in telling stories of our past. Why is it important for Chartrand to create her film? What value does it have for Canadians?