Considered the largest projection installation in the world, Cite Memoire provides residents and visitors to Montreal a multimedia experience in looking at the city’s history, diversity, and humanity. Scattered throughout old Montreal, short films are projected on the walls of historic buildings relating significant stories from Montreal’s past and present. Visitors access a mobile app to listen to the short films and the audio is available in several languages.
Film director Janice Zolf takes viewers behind the scenes in idea formation and realization of these creative projections for Cite Memoire. Known for their association with Cirque du Soleil, artistic directors Michael Lemieux and Victor Pilon create the concepts and design for 27 installations in Montreal and work with playwright Michael Marc Bouchard on the dramatic scripts for each vignette. These men also narrate the film.
On one building a Jewish orphan transport train arrives in Montreal in 1947 carrying holocaust survivors. Couples await orphans they plan to adopt and one family greets a young man. Viewers hear the thoughts of the players. In another tableau, Marie-Joseph Angelique, a slave, is escaping from the great fire in Montreal in 1734; she appears to be running out of the building toward the viewers who learn from Marie-Joseph that she is accused of setting the fire and will be hanged. Juxtaposed against Marie-Joseph’s fate is Jackie Robinson, who comes running out of the same building after hitting a home run; Jackie is the first black baseball player and the crowd loudly cheers for Jackie.
Humorous stories are told as well. In Montreal, the first of July is known for moving, and family and friends all get involved in the activity. In this vignette, renowned hockey player Maurice (Rocket) Richard uses quick athletic maneuvers and plenty of hilarity to move his brother-in-law’s furniture items from the second floor down to the street.
Some of the projections are artistic—especially one on the Old Port Clock Tower. With the music of “Suzanne," by Leonard Cohen, a woman is dancing in mid-air on the tower beneath the moon. To create the drama, a dancer in a flowing costume is filmed as she performs her dance underwater. Ethereal, the projection conveys a sense of freedom.
In another installation, a tribute is paid to Joe Beef, a tavern owner who devoted his money and energy to feeding the poor in the 1800s. Both rich and poor people attend Joe Beef’s funeral, and, as they pass by, individuals turn and look straight at the viewers. Time passes and honor is paid to another charitable man—Father Emmett Johns “Pops”, who died in 2018.
With inspiring stories and fascinating projections, Into the Light with Cite Memoire is a remarkable film; director Janice Zolf documents the making of this installation art in a memorable way. Highly recommended for academic library film collections with a focus on art. Suitable for art history professors to use in their classrooms. Editor’s Choice.
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