Statement by Nycole Turmel on Academy Award nomination of Quebec film Monsieur Lazhar

I warmly congratulate Quebec film director Philippe Falardeau and his team on the nomination of his film Monsieur Lazhar for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language film category.

This recognition confirms the high quality work of Canadian directors, whose films rival those in rest of the world. We have succeeded in creating an original film industry in Quebec and Canada that truthfully and powerfully reflects the social issues and cultural reality of our country.

Monsieur Lazhar delicately and deeply addresses subjects as serious as suicide, the fragility children face with the torments of adult life, the bloody repression in some war-torn countries, and the struggles of refugees in Canada who often face misunderstanding and indifference.

I praise Philippe Falardeau and the wonderful actors, children and adults, who made this film that touches us at the core of our being and forces us to take a look in the mirror.

I also want to congratulate the many other Canadian directors who, over the years, have won awards in various international fora. We have much to be proud of. Long live Canadian cinema!