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The Fate of America

Two well-known Quebec artists (filmmaker Jacques Godbout and playwright René-Daniel Dubois) look at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Whose version of this historic event should prevail? Is history best served by documentary or fiction? We also meet Baron Georges Savarin de Marestan and Andrew Wolfe-Burroughs, direct descendants of Montcalm and Wolfe, both of whom died in the battle that would give birth to Canada and to the province of Quebec. In French with English subtitles.
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Two well-known Quebec artists (filmmaker Jacques Godbout and playwright René-Daniel Dubois) look at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Whose version of this historic event should prevail? Is history best served by documentary or fiction? We also meet Baron Georges Savarin de Marestan and Andrew Wolfe-Burroughs, direct descendants of Montcalm and Wolfe, both of whom died in the battle that would give birth to Canada and to the province of Quebec. In French with English subtitles.

War, Conflict and Peace History - Canada - Pre-1867 All subjects
History All channels
  • director
    Jacques Godbout
  • narrator
    Jacques Godbout
  • producer
    Éric Michel
  • script
    Jacques Godbout
    René-Daniel Dubois
    Philippe Falardeau
    Louise Leroux
  • cinematography
    Jean-Pierre Lachapelle
  • sound
    Richard Besse
  • editing
    Monique Fortier
  • sound editing
    André Chaput
  • re-recording
    Shelley Craig
  • music
    François Dompierre
  • participation
    Andrew Wolfe-Burroughs
    Georges Savarin de Marestan
    Harold Klepak
    Camille Gosselin
    Laurier Lapierre

Education

Ages 13 to 17
School subjects
History - Canada under British Rule (1764-1867) History - Early Colonization/Settlement History and Citizenship Education - Change of Empire (1760-1791) History and Citizenship Education - European Expansion (1500s-1700s) History and Citizenship Education - Official Powers and Countervailing Powers (1608-present) Media Education - Documentary Film Media Education - Film and Video Production
Pre-viewing: Teach The Seven Years’ War as a background to the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Identify the reasons for the struggle between France and Great Britain for dominance in North America. Comment on the different fighting styles and backgrounds of the leaders (Wolfe and Montcalm) as they are depicted in the film. Discuss: The balance of power was tipped in Britain’s favour, and the course of Canadian history was profoundly altered. As such, this war is the central event in Quebec history. Which format (documentary or fiction) would best serve the history of this battle? Have students comment on the narrator’s statement: “History has the meaning we give it.” Do heroes exist in the real world?

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The Fate of America
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