Bruce Experiences: French Film Series: Bergers (Shepherds)

Join us for a special screening of Shepherds (Bergers), the latest feature film by acclaimed director Sophie Deraspe, winner of the Best Canadian Film award at TIFF 2024. Adapted from Mathyas Lefebure’s semi-autobiographical novel D’où viens-tu, berger?, this poignant drama follows a man’s radical life transformation as he trades in his fast-paced career in Montreal for the solitude and challenges of shepherding in the South of France.
After burning out in his job as an advertising executive, Mathyas (Félix-Antoine Duval) leaves city life behind to become a shepherd in Provence. But his romanticized vision of pastoral life is quickly tested by its harsh realities. When Élise (Solène Rigot), a civil servant who abruptly quits her job, joins him, the two embark on a life-changing journey through the rugged mountains, learning the ancient tradition of transhumance—herding sheep across the landscape with the changing seasons. A deeply immersive and visually stunning film, Shepherds is a reflection on resilience, self-discovery, and the pursuit of an alternative way of life in an ever-modernizing world.
Reception of with cheeses and beer from Québec hosted by: Marie-Josée Duquette, Attachée à la Culture et aux Affaires francophones et éducatives, Culture, Francophone and Academic Affairs Attachée Délégation du Québec à Boston, Quebec Government Office in Boston