1981

It’s the spring of 1981 and the Trogi family has just moved into a new home in the suburbs of Quebec City.  No sooner are they installed in their dream house, than inflation and an economic downtown shake the foundation of their already delicate existence.  11 year-old Ricardo doesn’t know what a mortgage is or what rising interest rates are, but, he knows there’s a problem.  And, as a working-class newcomer in a school of relatively affluent kids, he must rely on his wits and imagination to impress his new classmates and win over new friends.

Knowing his parents cannot afford the red-zipped K-Way or the coveted Sony Walkman, Ricardo instead dismisses his family and weaves an elaborate web of untruths to create a new persona.  He promises to bring his new pals copies of Playboy, and imagines his father could have been a lawyer had Hitler not destroyed his school.  His ruse even extends to Anne Tremblay, the smartest girl in class, whom Ricardo has a crush on.  When his façade begins to crumble, he must weigh the consequences of telling the truth against the effort it takes to maintain his carefully crafted image.  Ultimately, he discovers that living a lie has its fair share of pitfalls.

A cheeky, semi-autobiographical coming-of-age tale, 1981 is nuanced with honesty and comedic realism.  Director Trogi narrates with great humor and combines creative visual elements with a tone of irresistible sincerity that are enhanced by terrific performances particularly Jean-Carl Boucher's as the young Ricardo.  His childlike awkwardness and naïve missteps will leave you alternately laughing, wincing, and pitying poor Ricardo.  And, feeling grateful you’re not that age any longer.

In French with English subtitles.