- This event has passed.
Cinema: FCFC25 – The Battle of St. Leonard
March 10, 2025 - 7:30 PM - 21:30 UTC-6
By Felix Rose
Release date in Quebec: October 11, 2024
Original version in French, subtitled in English
go. : The Battle of St. Leonard
Duration: 1 hour 48 minutes
Documentary, Canada, 2024
An unprecedented linguistic crisis unfolded in the heart of Saint-Léonard in 1968-1969. Francophone parents demanded French-only schools, while members of the Italian community sought to preserve bilingual schools. The conflict spread throughout Quebec, creating enormous tensions that escalated into violence and culminated in a bloody riot. The Battle of Saint-Léonard tells the story of Raymond Lemieux and Mario Barone, two remarkable, often overlooked figures from humble origins, who opposed each other with strength and conviction, despite the heavy consequences for their family and professional lives. Their struggle would change the destiny of Quebec.