The Battle of Saint-Léonard

An unprecedented language crisis unfolded in the heart of the town of Saint-Leonard in 1968-1969. French-speaking parents demanded French-only schools, while members of the Italian community wanted to preserve bilingual schools. The conflict spread throughout Québec, creating enormous tensions that degenerated into violence and culminated in a bloody riot. The Battle of Saint-Léonard tells the story of Raymond Lemieux and Mario Barone, two remarkable yet forgotten men of modest origins, who each fought with strength and conviction, despite the heavy consequences to themselves, their families, and their professional lives. Their struggle changed the destiny of Québec and led to the adoption of the Charter of the French Language (Bill 101).

Feature film
108 min & 66 min
Maison 4tiers / TVA
tvaplus.ca

An unprecedented language crisis unfolded in the heart of the town of Saint-Leonard in 1968-1969. French-speaking parents demanded French-only schools, while members of the Italian community wanted to preserve bilingual schools. The conflict spread throughout Québec, creating enormous tensions that degenerated into violence and culminated in a bloody riot. The Battle of Saint-Léonard tells the story of Raymond Lemieux and Mario Barone, two remarkable yet forgotten men of modest origins, who each fought with strength and conviction, despite the heavy consequences to themselves, their families, and their professional lives. Their struggle changed the destiny of Québec and led to the adoption of the Charter of the French Language (Bill 101).

Research, screenwriting & direction
Félix Rose
Producer
Karine Dubois
Executive Producers
Marie-Pierre Corriveau, Karine Dubois and Félix Rose
Editing
Michel Giroux
Genre
Documentary
Country
Canada
Original Version
French
Format
2K, HD
Ratio
1:82 et 16:9
Duration
108 min & 75 min
Sound
5.1, stereo
Year
2024
Trailer

NO UPCOMING EVENTS

Awards and festivals
2024
Official Selection - Festival de cinéma de la ville de Québec
2024
Official Selection - Les trois jours du documentaire à Percé
2024
Official Selection - Windsor International Film Festival
2024
Official Selection - Festival du cinéma québécois de Biscarrosse
2025
Official Selection - Cinema on the Bayou
2025
Official Selection - Festival du Film de 7-Îles
2025
Official Selection - Victoria Film Festival
2025
Official Selection - Rendez-Vous Québec Cinéma
2025
Official Selection - Festival de Cinéma francophone de Calgary
2025
Official Selection - Festival du film de l'Outaouais
2025
Official Selection - Festival d'auteur de Val-Morin
2025
Winner - Prix Gémeaux - Meilleure émission documentaire : histoire, politique et société
2025
Winner - Prix Gémeaux - Meilleure réalisation émission documentaire : histoire, politique et société - Félix Rose
2025
Finalist - Prix Gémeaux - Meilleur scénario : émission documentaire - Félix Rose
2025
Finalist - Prix Gémeaux - Meilleure recherche : émission documentaire - Félix Rose
2025
Finalist - Prix Gémeaux - Meilleur montage : émission documentaire ou affaires publiques - Michel Giroux
2025
Finalist - Prix Gémeaux - Meilleure musique originale : documentaire - Marc Gravel
2025
Finalist - Prix Iris - Meilleur film documentaire - Félix Rose et Karine Dubois
2025
Finalist - Prix Iris - Meilleur son - Film documentaire - Simon Gervais, Laurence Turcotte-Fraser, Nicolas Dallaire
2025
Finalist - Prix Iris - Meilleure musique - Film documentaire - Marc Gravel
2025
Finalist - Prix Iris - Meilleur montage - Film documentaire - Michel Giroux
2025
Finalist - Prix RÉALS - Oeuvre documentaire
Credits
Research, screenwriting & direction
Félix Rose
Producer
Karine Dubois
Executive Producers
Marie-Pierre Corriveau, Karine Dubois and Félix Rose
Editing
Michel Giroux
Cinematography
Priscillia Piccoli
Sound Engineering
Laurence Turcotte-Fraser
Music
Marc Gravel
Sound Design
Simon Gervais
Color Grading
Marilène Clouâtre
Graphic Design
Eric Piccoli
Production Management
Marie-Hélène Beaudry
Financing & Legal Affairs
Catherine Lord
Promotion & Marketing
Cindy Labranche
The Battle of Saint-Léonard was produced with the support of
CMF
SODEC
Quebec
Telefilm
TVA
Canada
ACIC