René Lévesque (miniseries)

René Lévesque
Genre
Written byGeneviève Lefebvre
Directed byGiles Walker
Starring
Country of originCanada
Original languages
  • English
  • French
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes10
Production
Producer
  • Claudio Luca
CinematographySerge Ladouceur
EditorJean Beaudoin
Original release
NetworkCBC Television
ReleaseSeptember 7, 2006 (2006-09-07) –
April 15, 2008 (2008-04-15)

René Lévesque is a Canadian television miniseries that aired on CBC Television and Radio-Canada from September 7, 2006 to April 15, 2008 for two seasons same to the 1994 television miniseries aired on TVA. It stars Emmanuel Bilodeau as former-Quebec premier René Lévesque.

Plot and production

The series dramatized Lévesque as a journalist who eventually becomes the leader of the Parti Québécois. A journalist, Bilodeau, plays Lévesque, and it has been noted that Bilodeau had met the real Lévesque before the former-premier's death.[1] The series was viewed as "part of CBC's high-impact programming strategy."[2]

Reception

One newspaper said Bilodeau had a "remarkable" similarity to Lévesque in appearance;[3] however, another critic complained of "meandering looks at dubious 'icons' like separatist René Lévesque."[4] The series was considered a ratings flop since it drew only 131,000 viewers. It was thus seen as being among a few disappointments for the CBC in 2006, along with the documentary Hockey: A People's History and the television series What It's Like Being Alone.[2]

Series overview

The first season ran from September 7 to 21, 2006 on CBC in the English version while it ran from September 14 to 28, 2006 on Radio-Canada in the French version for the first season. The second season titled René: Le Destin d'un chef ran from March 25 to April 15, 2008 on Radio-Canada in the French version while it ran from April 8 to 29, 2008 on CBC in the English version.

See also

References

  1. ^ "CBC rolls out fall shows—heavy on documentaries". Standard - Freeholder. Cornwall, Ontario. June 4, 2005. p. 29.
  2. ^ a b Brioux, Bill. "Game over for the CBC". Canoe.ca. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2007.
  3. ^ "CBC emphasizes Canadian content". The Record. Kitchener, Ontario. June 8, 2005. p. A.14.
  4. ^ Vassallo, James (January 12, 2007). "'Canadian content' comes at a high price". Daily News. Prince Rupert, B.C. p. 4.