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Deep Dive: Archipelago (2022)

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Archipelago
Archipelago is a Canadian animated documentary directed by Félix Dufour-Laperrière, released in 2021. The film uses various animation styles to present a psychogeographic meditation on the islands in the St. Lawrence River. It serves as a metaphor for Quebec's identity, reflecting the tensions between its status as a province of Canada and the Québécois people's self-perception as a distinct nation. The film features narration by Florence Blain Mbaye, Mattis Savard-Verhoeven, and Joséphine Bacon, who contributes a poem in Innu-aimun. It premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in February 2021 and had its Canadian premiere at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in April. The film was commercially released on October 19, 2021.

Why Watch

  • •See animation styles from Malcolm Sutherland and Eva Cvijanović.
  • •Meet narrators Florence Blain Mbaye and Mattis Savard-Verhoeven.
  • •Find out about Quebec's identity as a distinct nation.

Did You Know

•Archipelago won a jury prize at the 2021 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
•The film received four Prix Iris nominations at the 2022 Quebec Cinema Awards.
•It was named the winner of the Prix Luc-Perreault at the 2022 Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma.

Perfect For

Animated documentary fansQuebec culture enthusiastsAnimation style aficionados