Rodéo is a film that broke my heart just a little. It is the story of a man without much, whose ex attempts to keep his child from him, so he decides to take the child secretly on a road trip to the Badlands World’s Best Truck Rodeo, which both he and his daughter are obsessed with. He makes bad decision after bad decision, but it is all in the name of being with his daughter. It is painful and lovely.
Rodéo through its rather simple story explores the complicated issues with Serge's parenting which include, as I mentioned, horrible decisions, but also includes an undying love for his child. It also explores the class issues for working class French Canadians. It does all of this without lecturing or speaking it outright, but showing us in very real terms. The film is short but filled with incredible moments and strong performances by Le Flaguais and Roy-Lanouette.
As someone who has lived in both Quebec and Alberta the film's geography and sense of place spoke to me. Road movies have a kind of energy to them that is both escapist (literally) and grounded in space. Rodéo captures this spirit eloquently.
Rodéo is the sort of movie that will break your heart knowing that what is right can be hard and complicated and very difficult. This film looks that in the eye and runs with it, across the whole country.
Rodéo
Starring: Maxime Le Flaguais, Lilou Roy-Lanouette
Writer/Director: Joëlle Desjardins Paquette
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