Our Catalog

Silencing the Guns

Early June: salmon fishing season has just opened on the majestic Nabessipi River. On the deserted beach at Nutameham, near the mouth of the river, biologist Jean-Pierre Lafond (JACQUES PERRIN) is studying fin whales, belugas and other marine mammals under a splendid morning sky, when suddenly he catches sight of a capsized fishmg boat offshore. Jean-Pierre alerts the Native police force. The craft is pulled from the water, its aluminum hull badly attered. Some days later, at the same spot, building contractor Dan Arsenault (JEAN HARVEY) discovers the corpse of a young Indian, his face bloodied. The body is that of Salomon Ishpatau, a close friend of Ulysse Lalo, brother of Roxane (MICHELE AUDE'ITE), the Band Council secretary. Six days later, Jean-Pierre and Roxane make another gruesome discovery, the body of Ulysse, also bloodied. The police announce that both men were victims of accidental drownings, yet neither was found to have any water in his lungs. . . With Roxane's help, Jean-Pierre sets out to expose the truth. Hesitantly at first,then with increasing resolve, he braves fisheries patrol boats, the sport fishing association in the neighbouring non-Native village, police brutality and the nonchalance of the local Native chief. Happily, other non-Natives are on Jean-Pierre's side: Dan Arsenault, accompanied by Father Philibert (GABRIEL GASCON), a missionary in the area for the past 30 years, are determined to support him in his quest for justice, any way they can. From this search for truth may come justice.. . or at least some ray of hope.

Genre:		World Cinema
Original Title:		Silence des fusils, Le