In the lead up to the 7th Canadian Film Festival in Australia (August 2012), join us as we countdown the Top 100 Canadian Films of the past 30 years. We'll be posting one film a day leading up to Canada Day on July 1st 2012. Do you agree with our staff favourites? Let us know your thoughts!
Bruno Hébert’s beloved novels come to life in It’s Not Me, I Swear! a sweet yet bleakly funny coming-of-agefilm set in 1960s Québec. Director Philippe Falardeau manages to touch on the harsh universal themes of unhappiness and loneliness with a whimsy and playfulness that reminds us that what we’re seeing is through the eyes of a child.
The story centers on Léon, a precocious 10 year old who’s had to grow up too fast because of his mother and father’s less than impressive parenting and constant fighting. To cope with his dysfunction tinged surroundings, Léon acts out by attempting suicide in a variety of ways, including hanging himself from a tree. Léon befriends Léa, a friend he finds solace in because of her similarly rough family life. When Léon’s mother leaves her family behind to live in Greece, the scheming Léon hatches a plan with Léa to find his mother and bring her back home.
The magic and the heartbreaking charm of the film is derived from Léon’s unwavering loyalty, whether in his relationship with his mother or with Léa, despite the neglect he’s subjected to. The black humour that permeates throughout the film makes Léon’s suicide attempts--which are reminiscent of young Harold in Harold and Maude--strangely enjoyable to watch because you know that he’ll never be successful. In the scene in which Léon’s mother resorts to cutting down the tree he tried to hang himself from rather than doing the obvious parental thing and talking to her son, is exemplary of the tragedy and hilarity of the situation.
One of the of the strengths of the film is the casting of Léon and Léa, played to perfection by Antoine L'Écuyer and Catherine Faucher respectively, as two children who still hold onto a shred of innocence despite their stolen childhoods.
It’s Not Me, I Swear! is an exceedingly entertaining little film filled with just the right amount of pathos, comedy, and quirks.
-Pamela Galbraith
"Modest, but resonant, It's Not Me, I Swear!, is a Quebec coming-of-age story that juggles elements of dark humour, pathos and childhood whimsy." (Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail)
It's Not Me, I Swear! had it's Australian premiere at the Possible Worlds Film Festival in 2009
To see the other films in the countdown so far, click here.