SnoopyStyle Gaby Gagnon owns a sheep farm left to him by his father in Quebec. He's a simple old man of simple means. His daughter Marie visits him with her two sons. She tells him that she left her absentee husband Steve. She wants $200k to keep the house and buy out Steve. He can't get a loan. After spending his life giving everything to his daughters, he considers selling the farm.There is a dignified sadness to the farmer. It seems to be a simple idea with a quietly powerful concept. Then the dog happens and the movie takes it to another level. His brother shows up. More is revealed about his life. There is a powerful scene with his other daughter. It could probably be tightened up a little but I wouldn't cut any of the major scenes. The performances are pitch perfect and it is such a poignant movie.

Larry Silverstein This independent film, written and directed by Sebastien Pilote, offers the viewer lots of quiet realism. For those that have the patience to allow a drama to unfold at its' own pace, enhanced by fine acting, you may very well find rewards here with this movie.Gabriel Arcand powerfully portrays Gaby, a 63-year-old life-long sheep farmer, in the beautiful countryside of Quebec Province, Canada. He's been divorced for 20 years, and only sees his two daughters Marie (Lucie Laurier) and Frederique (Sophie Desmarais) occasionally, as they live in Montreal. He does have his trusty companion and work dog with him, is visited by his neighbor friend Louis (Gilles Renard) who helps him with his financial books, and gets part-time help on the farm by a local boy.However Gaby's world is jolted when he receives a visit from Marie, and her two sons, who tells her father she's now separated from her husband, and asks Gaby if he can lend her $200,000 so she can buy out her husband's interest in their home and save it from foreclosure.Gaby is in lots of debt with his farm, which is barely showing any profits, and quickly realizes that if he wants to help his daughter he may have to sell his farm. Although others tell him he's being manipulated by Marie, Gaby feels that a father has to give to his family to happy.If he's to go ahead with the auction of his farm, Gaby will have to face the cold-hearted realities of the process of selling all of his possessions, including the land, the sheep, his home etc., and begins to see the emotional toll this can take on him. However, at the same time, he sees it as a way of breaking free of a life he's been toiling at for decades, with few rewards, and enable him to be closer to his family.There are some nonsensical decisions that Gaby will make along the way, but overall I found this film to be a poignant and powerful drama, enhanced by superb acting all around, and wonderful cinematography.

gradyharp Canadian writer/director Sébastien Pilote has created a fine little film that in many ways plays like an elegy to times past. The film moves slowly, like a gentle stroll in the Canadian countryside, the action is spare, the acting is excellent and the message is exquisite. Canadian farmer Gaby Gagnon (Gabriel Arcand) tends his sheep on his lovely little farm in northern Quebec and much of the essence of the film is his interaction with the land and the animals that have been his life. He has named the highly regarded farm Bouchard & Sons, hoping his farm will be passed to his sons. But instead of sons he has two daughters – Frédérique (Sophie Desmarais) and Marie (Lucie Laurier) - and both have moved away from the farm to Montreal and into different lives. Marie and her 2 sons visit Gaby requesting financial support: she has left her husband Steve and needs to buy Steve's half of the house to maintain her family. Gaby wants to help her but realizes that the only source of money he has is Bouchard & Sons, which would mean essentially ending Gaby's home and way of life. It is a conflict well resolved by the writer/director.The sense of isolation, need, seclusion and yet camaraderie with his fellow farmers who know and love nothing more than the life of a farm makes this a very nostalgic film. Gabriel Arcand is luminous as Gaby and every moment of his struggle we feel intensely. The film score by Serge Nakaushi-Pelletier is at once simple and eloquent and the cinematography by Michel La Veaux captures the essence of the Canadian countryside. In all, this is a gentle, quiet, slow moving film about emotional decisions and family commitment and traditions and it plays very well indeed.

Reno Rangan This is the story of a Canadian farmer which was told in a quite realistic mode. A man who lives in the countryside and his way of life was presented beautifully on the screen. It also speaks the value of the family members even though each of them are spread out to different places seeking a better life and future. I had seen many movies that depict the farmers' lives around the world, but this part of the world probably first time for me.The story of a father who live alone in a country farm on which he raises livestocks. Among the best in the surrounding area and people are jealous of it. One day one of his daughters comes asking financial help. As a father how he reacts to the circumstance to give support to his daughter. For that he has to sacrifice his way of life he led in the last 40 years, which ends in a high note emotion.I am quite happy for choosing this. It was an heartwarming melodrama. Many touchy lines reached real deep into me. The character Gaby was the highlight of the movie. The actor who did that role was fantastic, must recognize and acknowledge it. The movie was too slow though well executed in every part of the story. Strictly for drama movie fans and family audience. It was a simple and good movie. There's nothing more to talk about than a watch and to know it yourself.