Since 1983
THE AWARD WINNING SUÊTE FILMS
PRODUCED, WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY NEAL LIVINGSTON, 1999
SUÊTES
Exploring narrative in a sometimes whimsical, sometimes evocative and always entertaining fashion his recent films in this area include:
Both films document the reality of the hurricane force wind storms that batter the North West Coast of Cape Breton Island. Suêtes is equal parts meteorological documentary and humorous anecdotes, while the award winning Michel in the Suête is about one man's hilarious battle against the wind. Suêtes was profiled in January 2000 across the USA on NPR radio, and both films have been broadcast nationally on television across Canada.
This documentary traces the folklore, stories, and reality of living under the hurricane force winds, that beat down upon the residents of the Acadian region of Western Cape Breton Island, between Margaree Harbour and Cheticamp. The film contains stunning landscapes shot in winds of 130 miles per hour.
While there is often serious damage from these Suêtes, roofs blowing off buildings and even homes blowing apart, there is also a good dose of local humour surrounding life under these harsh environmental conditions. Residents from young to more than 90 years old tell their tales of life under these winds.
On the comic side artist Michel Williatte-Battet is hilarious as he attempts to hang up the laundry at 130 mph, read a newspaper outside, or just get in and out of his car and into and out of his house.
Suêtes was financed by Telefilm Canada, the Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation, and Black River Productions Limited. The French version was produced with assistance from the Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund. Suêtes was produced with the financial participation of ATV in Atlantic Canada, CFCF TV in Quebec, ONtv in Ontario, and SCN in Saskatchewan.
"I recently had the pleasure of viewing Neal Livingston's 1999 film entitled Suêtes. ... I'm not sure if Livingston has a knack for making his subjects relax in front of the camera or if he purposely used footage of his less camera-shy interviewees, for all the people who told their stories relayed them in a relaxed and unfeigned manner. Often (his) camera would go into their living rooms, giving the film a down-to-earth tone. ... Suêtes is another highly original film from Livingston. I imagine documentaries about wind are primarily scientific and do not delve into the cultural impacts of the wind. I doubt many are as funny as Suêtes."
– Shunpiking Magazine, Feb/Mar, 2000.
SUÊTES (en Francais)
PRODUCED, WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY NEAL LIVINGSTON, 1999
Ce documentaire retrace le folklore, contes, et la réalité de la vie sous les vents de force ouragan, qui se sont abattues sur les habitants de la région acadienne de Cap-Breton, entre Margaree Harbour et Chéticamp. Le film contient de superbes paysages tournés dans des vents de 130 miles par heure.
Bien qu'il y ait des dommages souvent graves de ces Suêtes, toits soufflant bâtiments et même les maisons soufflant à part, il ya aussi une bonne dose d'humour Aux alentours de la vie dans ces conditions environnementales difficiles. Les résidents du plus jeune au plus de 90 ans racontent leurs histoires de vie dans ces vents.
Sur le côté artiste comique Michel Williatte-Battet est hilarant, comme il tente d'accrocher le linge à 130 miles par heure, lire un journal à l'extérieur, ou tout simplement entrer et de sortir de sa voiture et dans et hors de sa maison.
Suêtes a été financé par Téléfilm Canada, la Nouvelle-Écosse Film Development Corporation et Black River Productions Limited. La version française a été réalisée avec l'aide du film indépendant canadien et le Fonds de la vidéo. Suêtes a été produit avec la participation financière du VTT dans le Canada atlantique, CFCF TV au Québec, en Ontario ONtv, et SCN en Saskatchewan.
MICHEL IN THE SUÊTE
PRODUCED, WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY NEAL LIVINGSTON, 1998
Exploring narrative in a sometimes whimsical, sometimes evocative and always entertaining fashion his recent films in this area include:
A hilarious comic documentary about Michel Williatte-Battet attempting to carry out a normal day's activities during a Suête wind storm. The results are unpredictable and side-splitting!
Suêtes are hurricane force south-east winds that beat down on the Acadian French coastal area of northwestern Cape Breton Island, in the eastern Canadian Province of Nova Scotia, Canada in the spring and autumn.
The film received its premiere screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival It has also been screened at the Atlantic Film Festival 1998, and the Local Hero's Film Festival 1999. It received a Moonsnail Award for best sound at the Atlantic Film Festival 1998. It has also been screened theatrically in Canada, the United States, and Finland.