Good Riddance | |
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Film poster
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Directed by | Francis Mankiewicz |
Produced by |
Marcia Couëlle Claude Godbout |
Written by | Réjean Ducharme |
Starring |
Charlotte Laurier Marie Tifo Germain Houde |
Music by | Bernard Buisson |
Cinematography | Michel Brault |
Edited by | André Corriveau |
Distributed by | Pan-Canadian Film Distributors |
Release date
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Running time
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120 minutes |
Country | Canada |
Language | French |
Budget | CAD 600,000 |
Good Riddance (French: Les Bons débarras) is a 1980 French-language Canadian drama film. Directed by Francis Mankiewicz and written by Réjean Ducharme, the film concerns Manon (Charlotte Laurier), an unstable young girl who lives with her mother Michelle (Marie Tifo) and her alcoholic and intellectually disabled uncle Ti-Guy (Germain Houde).
Starting as the first screenplay by the novelist Ducharme, the film was shot by Mankiewicz and cinematographer Michel Brault at an inexpensive cost. It debuted at the Berlin International Film Festival and won several Genie Awards, including Best Motion Picture. It was established as a classic Canadian film, with the Toronto International Film Festival repeatedly placing it in the Top 10 Canadian Films of All Time.
Manon is a precocious 13-year-old girl living with her mother Michelle and intellectually challenged uncle Ti-Guy in the Laurentian Upland. Manon wants to quit school and obtain the true love of her mother, who she accuses of not loving her. Michelle is pregnant with the child of Maurice, a police officer who tries to convince her to give up caring for Ti-Guy, by placing him in an institution. Ti-Guy is frequently stealing from Michelle, drinking excessively, driving dangerously and stalking the family's wealthy female neighbour. Maurice also pressures Michelle to get an abortion. Manon strongly dislikes Ti-Guy for his misbehavior and Maurice for being a cop, and when Michelle tells Manon of her pregnancy, Manon becomes upset. Manon prefers Gaetan, Michelle's former lover who gives her marijuana, and also steals the book Wuthering Heights from their neighbour and starts reading it.