The Back-breaking Leaf

The day of the big stationary threshing machine is almost over, pushed into obscurity by the combine harvester. But there are still parts of Canada where crops are gathered in the old-fashioned way as the men worked out in the fields and the women managed the kitchen. This film records, in the Châteauguay Valley of Québec, sights and sounds that not long ago were common to most rural parts of Canada.

Each summer, the thrill of adventure and the great outdoors lure thousands of young Quebecers to British Columbia. Since the 1960s, they've been coming to harvest fruit in the lush countryside of the Okanagan Valley. The camera follows several spirited youth into the orchards for seven weeks. As the rain sets in, reality unfolds: it's cold, the cherry crop is late, and money is short. But as they make friends and enjoy their independence, the promise of adventure is realized. Surprising new views of Canada emerge as different cultures come together for a season. Featuring interviews with the fruit pickers, orchard owners and local residents, Okanagan Dreams is a warm and humorous reflection of a summer in the valley. Although their work is integral to the local economy, the youth find that the experience is not just about making money. It's about awareness, self-discovery and exploring the world.

Montréal readies itself for Christmas, its usual quick tempo accelerated into one last spurt of spending, rehearsing, preparation and merrymaking. The milling crowds, the store Santa Clauses, Brink's messengers, the kindergarten angels, and the boisterous nightclubs--all make a potpourri of Christmas.