The Mighty River
The Mighty River
FrenchLe Fleuve aux grandes eaux
Directed byFrédéric Back
Written byFrédéric BackHubert FieldenPatricia LavoieJean SalvyHubert TisonPierre Turgeon
Produced byFrédéric BackHubert Tison
Narrated byDonald Sutherland (English)Paul Hébert (French)
Edited byNorbert Pickering
Music byDenis L. ChartrandNormand Roger
Animation byFrédéric Back
Productioncompany
Release date
  • June 1993 (1993-06) (Annecy)
Running time
24 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguagesEnglishFrench

The Mighty River (French: Le Fleuve aux grandes eaux) is a Canadian animated short film, directed by Frédéric Back and released in 1993.[1]

Summary

The film is a portrait of the St. Lawrence River, depicting both its natural beauty and the threats to it from human negligence of the environment.[1] It was the last film Back worked on before Société Radio-Canada, the French division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for which Back worked, closed down its animation department.[2]

The film's English version was narrated by Donald Sutherland, and its French version was narrated by Paul Hébert.

Release

It premiered at the 1993 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

In Canada, it was distributed principally as a television special, broadcast in French by SRC Télévision and in English by CBC Television.[3]

Back and biologist Claude Villeneuve released a book version of the film in 1995.[4]

Awards

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Annecy International Animation Film Festival1993 Grand Prix du court métrage Frédéric Back Won
Los Angeles Film Critics Association1993Best Animation Frédéric Back Won [5]
Academy Awards1994Best Animated Short FilmFrédéric Back, Hubert Tison Nominated [6]
Yorkton Film Festival1994 Best of FestivalWon [7]
Golden Sheaf Award for Best AnimationWon
Best Sound Luc Boudrias, Michel Descombes Won
Hiroshima International Animation Festival1994 Grand Prize Frédéric Back Won [8]
Ottawa International Animation Festival1994 Production 10–30 minutes Won [9]

References

  1. ^ abRay Conlogue, "Films reflecting values set animator's work apart: Frederic back may bring home his third Oscar tonight but that won't bring back the Radio-Canada department he worked in". The Globe and Mail, March 21, 1994.
  2. ^Mike Boone, "The mighty St. Lawrence: Radio-Canada explores the river's history in animation". Calgary Herald, April 17, 1994.
  3. ^Tony Atherton, "Animator's moving film on TV tonight". Ottawa Citizen, April 17, 1994.
  4. ^"Animator's vision of St. Lawrence tragedy now a book; Radio-Canada's Oscar-winning Frederic Back mourns the desecration of the mighty river". Ottawa Citizen, December 15, 1995.
  5. ^Fox, David; Champlin, Charles (December 13, 1993). "L.A. Critics Pick 'Schindler's List' as Best Picture". Los Angeles Times.
  6. ^"Frederic Back nominated - again". Montreal Gazette, February 10, 1994.
  7. ^"Montreal and Halifax films share top prize". Calgary Herald. May 31, 1994. p. 21.
  8. ^"River runs". Vancouver Sun, September 3, 1994.
  9. ^"The Wrong Trousers proves perfect fit at animation festival". Ottawa Citizen, October 4, 1994.
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