Synopsis

A portrait of Patrice Fortier, artist and seed-grower, a man who puts his passion and know-how at the service of saving our vegetables’ biodiversity.   He likes beets, the solid varieties that don’t mind the wind. He also likes a plant to be autonomous. He scans carrots with the same patience and precision he puts in getting his gourds’ seeds. Sometimes he dreams of a cherry tree with a DNA he could pass on. Let’s not forget his pride in showing his Polish Swedes…   Patrice Fortier is not a mad man but a true lover! Set up at the Plant Society, located in the plain of Kamouraska farming land, he preserves and refreshes rare and forgotten seeds to give a new life and richness to the vegetables’ heritage.

Director's statement

What interested me in shooting this film, other than the cinematographic inspiration of the garden and the metaphor that is his microcosm, was talking about saving our vegetables’ diversity with a person who carries this mission with panache.   Patrice Fortier is a sower of ideas who carries many dreams. I eased myself into his universe with curiosity and respect, taking the time to discover him following the rhythm of the seasons. The film shows him like an archetype, a daily hero who lives in synergy with his plant creatures.   It felt natural to prefer an “artisan” type of moviemaking, typical of Quebec direct cinema’s tradition to accompany Patrick. I wanted to emphasize the sacred and patrimonial aspect of his work and wanted the camera to catch every one of the different steps.   In the old days, the farmers planted the seeds coming from their harvests. This ancestral gesture is disappearing nowadays, as seeds get their own patent! I wanted to celebrate the gestures of the sower to bring them back up to date and remind people that today, replanting a seed is an act of resistance.

Why this choice?

This is a poetic film about an out of the ordinary character, half artist, half-seed bank. As we share his world and his daily life, this passionate, something of a poet has us discover the treasures and incredible diversity of plants, fruits and vegetables that we have forgotten and that he is trying to bring back to life.    

Awards :

BEST FILM Food For Real Film Festival Awards, Liverpool (UK) - 2015 BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM - Washington DC International Film Festival (DCIFF) (USA) -2015 GRAND PRIX CANADIEN DU JURY - Les Percéïdes (Québec, CANADA) - 2014 PRIX ARTISTIQUE - Festival de Films sur l'Environnement de Portneuf Québec (CANADA) - 2014