Series Mania: This Left-wing Abortion Series Got Us Off, And It’s Coming From Quebec!

The Series Mania Festival, which takes place in Lille until March 24, is a great opportunity to discover fiction from around the world. One of them, Disobeir: Chantale Daigle’s choice, caught our attention in particular. This six-episode Quebec program recounts a true story, a trial that made headlines across Canada in 1989.

Chantalie Daigle is a 21-year-old young woman. Pregnant by Jean-Guy Tremblay, at the time of her separation from her husband, she wants to have an abortion. He categorically refuses. A legal battle and a media storm are underway. The basis of this story is, above all, the right of women to dispose of their own bodies, which is called into question.

Of course, such a series finds a special resonance considering the current events. While abortion rights in the United States have weakened — Wyoming recently banned the abortion pill — this product highlights a story little-known to younger audiences. This is also one of the main motivations of this project.

She was told that a few weeks old fetus was more important than her body and that she was useless.

“There is no abortion law in Canada.explains the producer and director of the series, Alexis Duran-Brault. This is Tremblay Ch. Daigle serving as a trial practice. If young women have this right today, it is thanks to Chantel’s struggle. The new generation has forgotten this story and will rediscover it thanks to the series. This is what gives me the greatest pleasure.”

Sophie Lorraine, producer, continues:It is important that we talk about this young woman who faced justice. She was told that the fetus of a few weeks was more important than her body and that it was worthless, that she had no power over her present or future..”

Written by Isabelle Pelletier and Daniel Thibault, the series entered development in early 2019. Documentary filmmaker Gaëlle d’Ynglemare did the initial investigative work, then the authors continued research to enrich the scenarios.

“It was the most difficult to chooseclarifies Sophie Lorraine. There are so many archival images, court reports, that we don’t have to dive into the details and explain the topic.“

The real Chantal Daigle did not participate in the development of the project. The producer reveals that he wrote her a letter:I wanted him to know that his story was going to be told so that his true worth would be recognized. He responded and confirmed his confidence in us, while also wanting to maintain media discretion..”

In the manner of an American crime story, the series describes events with a heightened sense of detail and dynamic staging, which puts the viewer in the center of the situation.

Eleanor Louise and Antoine Pilon are amazing in the main roles. The latter is described as “evidenceDirected by, most notably appearing in Xavier Dolan’s Matthias & Maxime.

It was more difficult to find an actress, but after her first appearance at the audition, Eleanor Louisell – only 21 years old – convinced the producers. “She is a woman of incredible instincts and incredible depth.“, notes Alexis Durand-Brault.

At the beginning of development, several broadcasters did not want to host the project. “Some feared negative political consequences“- regrets the director. Launched on March 8 on the Crave platform – the Canadian equivalent of HBO – the series has enjoyed significant critical and public success. Madness that allows this story to return to the heart of conversations.

Disobedience: The Choice of Chantal Daigle does not yet have a broadcaster in France. The program is presented as part of the Panorama International competition at the Series Mania festival.

Discover the first two episodes until March 24 Series Mania+ platform.

Interview by Thomas Desroches, Lille, March 22, 2023.

Find the second issue of our podcast recorded on Series Mania: