One of the most deeply cherished books in the history of French-Canadian literature, Louis Hémon’s 1913 novel Maria Chapdelaine is remarkable both as a portrait of life in rural Quebec and the saga of a young woman’s experience of love and grief. The challenge of fully honouring such daunting source material is more than met by director Sébastian Pilote (THE FIREFLIES ARE GONE, KCFF19) and a cast that includes many of Québec’s best actors. Boasting beautiful cinematography by Michel La Veaux and a sweeping score by Philippe Brault, Pilote’s film offers a thoroughly immersive viewing experience, one that brings a long-gone era to life in a way that feels startlingly fresh and vital.