Originally Published: 2005-10-23

I cannot remember the last time I was so bored by such a pompous and overwrought movie. Dubbed as the most expensive film ever made in Quebec, Nouvelle-France moves like a dull television series that resembles more a melodramatic soap opera than an historical period epic. Even the sets and costumes are unconvincing and indifferent. It's obvious that most of the money went to getting an impressive list of top-grade actors who show up in little more than cameo roles.
Most of the film takes place in 1759 in what is now Quebec City, where Francois Le Gardeur (David La Haye) returns home to learn his father had died. Quickly he spots young widow Marie-Loup Noemie (Godin-Vigneau), the mother of a young daughter, who many believe to be a witch. As the two circle around each other, Francois learns that his dad did illegal dealings with Intendant Le Bigot (Vincent Perez) to steal New France's wealth, but now the French city's days are numbered. In England, Ben Franklin (Colm Meaney) is visiting Prime Minister William Pitt (Tim Roth) who entrusts General James Wolfe (Jason Isaacs) with taking Canada away from the French. Before Le Bigot can stop Francois, the latter heads off to Versailles to ask Madame Pompadour to get the King to fight harder for New France; and the letter he sends to Marie-Loup asking her to join him is intercepted by jealous priest Father Blondeau (Gerard Depardieu) who tells the illiterate woman a lie. There's a war and Franc loses; and Marie-France marries evil Xavier (Sebastian Huberdeau) whom she supposedly murders when Francoise returns home alive and well. So there's a puppet trial, an execution, confessions, yawn.
And just as the dialogue is wooden and fake, the music is unbearably Disney and inappropriate. Sitting through this long-winded vanity feast was a chore indeed that I do not wish on anyone.

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