THE STORY

Saint-Henri, Montreal, in the winter of 1940. It is here that we meet Florentine Lacasse, a young waitress working to help her parents support their too-large family. Florentine is seduced by Jean Lévesque, an ambitious young man who then tries to foist her off on his friend Emmanuel Letourneau. Emmanuel, a gentle soldier, from a well to do family, falls in love with the young woman whose heart pines for the heartless Jean. The film tells the story of this love triangle against the background of the family life of the Lacasses and World War II. Adapted from the novel by Gabrielle Roy.

THE CHARACTER

Emmanuel Letourneau is a sensitive young man with high morals. A man of his word he is true in his love for Florentine. Coming from a well off family he might not have been drafted yet chose to volunteer to fight for his Country. For as he says, "if your neighbors house is on fire would you not run to help? Well our neighbor's in Europe need our help..." He is a bit naive about love and can not see that the woman he wants to marry loves another. He believes that it is his duty to help others in need. He does not judge or criticize others for their shortcomings but rather listens. He is a man who acts from his heart and follows what he believes

NOTES

"The Tin Flute was my big break. I was still in theatre school, my final year, when I won the role of Emmanuel. I was very nervous and terribly excited. This was a huge project. A feature film as well as a 6hr mini series that would be shot in both French and English. This had never been done before in Canada. I certainly felt the pressure and responsibility that came with the role because it was an expensive, eagerly awaited project. this being the cinematic version of a well read classic Canadian novel. In which I was to play one of the principal characters...."

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