THE FIREFLIES ARE GONE/ LA DISPARITION DES LUCIOLES

Canada, 2018, 96 minutes, Colour.

Karelle Tremblay, Pierre- Luc Brillant, François Papineau, Luc Picard, Marie- France Marcotte.

Directed by Sebastien Pilote.

This is a Canadian mood piece. That the fireflies have disappeared is due to growing urbanisation, too much light in the cities. At the end, symbolically, the central character neglects to turn on the lights over a playing field and the fireflies return.

This is a portrait of an 18-year-old, Leo, played by Karelle Tremblay. She is an angry young woman, resenting her controlling and ambitious mother, critical of her godparents and their trying to influence her future, especially the godfather was in a relationship with her mother. She is also angry that her father, the union leader, was pilloried, the factory destroyed and his being required to go north for months on end for work.

Leo is quite articulate, has friends, but takes up an acquaintance with Steve (Pierre- Luc Brillant), who teaches guitar, lives with his mother, takes an interest in Leo, the going out together, walking and talking, and buying a guitar, beginning lessons – but, Leo can’t stay with anything longer than a month. She is moved by Steve’s mother’s death, but is continually on the move – to where?

1. The French- Canadian setting? The city, homes, restaurants, lectures, the streets, the atmosphere of the city?
2. The title? Urban development and the disappearance of the fireflies? The story of Leo, the rebellion, the job with the playing field, turning on the lights, not turning on the lights, the return of the fireflies? Symbol?
3. Leo’s story, 18^th birthday, at the restaurant, her mother supercilious about her daughter and her future, the godparents and their questions? The absent father? Her irritation, leaving, on the bus? Her spirit of rebellion? The issue of her angers? Friends and conversation? Classes, professor? In the diner, the encounter with Steve? Her approach, his response, her following?
4. Steve, musician, teaching guitar, living with his mother, the basement? The conversations with Leo? Their getting on well, the outings together, the discussions, his revealing himself and his life, her talking about herself, yet abrupt changes? His teaching guitar, buying a guitar, bringing it for lessons, her story about lasting only a month with hobbies? Steve and his also buying the guitar, playing, performance, teaching? His relationship with his mother?
5. Leo, the story of her father, the union, the destroyed factory, her taking Steve to see it, explaining her story? Her father working, coming for two weeks, interactions with his daughter? Returning to work?
6. The godfather, supercilious, right-wing, his radio program, attack on the unions, intervening with Leo? His relationship with her mother?
7. Leo, her moods, walking out on Steve? His mother’s death, going to the Chapel, talking with Steve, looking at his mother in the coffin?
8. Leo, escaping on the bus, always moving on, the job, her godfather’s patronage, her attempt to get the job at the kitchen and the convent, the nun’s death, the manager? Looking after the stating, lights on, lights off, the fireflies returning? Leo’s future?