Séraphin: un homme et son péché

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Séraphin: un homme et son péché
Directed by	Charles Binamé
Produced by	Louis Laverdière, Luc Martineau
Written by	Pierre Billon, Charles Binamé, Lorraine Richard, Antonine Maillet
Starring	Pierre Lebeau, Karine Vanasse, Roy Dupuis
Distributed by	Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm
Release date(s)	November 29, 2002
Running time	128 min
Language	French
IMDb profile

Séraphin: un homme et son péché (English title: Séraphin: Heart of Stone) is a Quebec film released in 2002. The script is based on a novel by Claude-Henri Grignon. The film won a number of Jutra Awards and the Genie Golden Reel Award in 2003.

An earlier film, Un homme et son péché, based on the same novel, was produced in 1949.

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

In a small Quebec community at the end of the 19th century, due to her father's financial hardships, Donalda Laloge(Vanasse) is forced to marry the village miser (also the mayor), Séraphin Poudrier (Lebeau), and to leave behind the young man that she truly loves. Her beloved, Alexis (Dupuis), returns from working at the lumber camps, unaware of these events. Donalda is extremely unhappy living with Séraphin, because he will do anything to save money. This includes not giving Donalda children and not letting her eat enough. Donalda becomes very sick with a pneumonia-like illness. Alexis returns just before her death. During Donalda's funeral, Séraphin realizes his house is on fire. He panics and runs into the house, trying to save his money, but dies. Alexis pulls him out of the burning house. The villagers pry open Séraphin's hands and he has gold coins in them.

This is a classic Quebec story of hardworking people confined in their small village, struggling to get by and defenseless against the rich and powerful.