The trailer of the series “Mégantic” unveiled on Monday plunges us into the heart of the railway tragedy that killed 47 people on July 6, 2013 in the municipality of Estrie.
• Also read: From February 9th at Club illico: The “Mégantic” series tells what we haven’t seen yet
It shows that the quiet life of the Méganticois was completely disrupted during the dead of night derailment in the Musi-Café sector in downtown Lac-Mégantic, where many victims gathered.
Mégantic screenwriter Sylvain Guy told Agence QMI that this high-profile production, which took more than a year of post-production to produce the special effects and sound effects, “is a tale of the loss of our little everyday lives. The entire population of the place remains scarred at different levels, some not recovering from the horror caused by the explosion and fire of numerous wagons containing more than seven million liters of crude oil.
- Listen to Anaïs Guertin-Lacroix’s cultural contribution, broadcast live every day at 6:35 a.m QUB radio :
In the trailer we find ourselves in the Musi-Café while an evening like the others is in full swing. The regulars are enjoying themselves and the spirits are high, both inside and on the terrace, until the carriages right next to the bar spin at high speed, derailing and causing the worst rail tragedy in Canadian history.
Photo provided by the production.
We see people making their way, firefighters trying to contain the blaze, and worried loved ones rushing to the downtown area, which is being devastated by the blaze and successive explosions. The pioneers hose down the unexploded cars next to the 72 derailed to save the remains of the 5600-strong city.
Among other things, the series focuses on the heroism and courage of several Méganticois who prevented the worst. A character portrayed by Bruno Marcil yells at a firefighter: “I have my wife, I have my brother, I have my sister-in-law, I have my friends who are there, I will not stand idly by!” Words that are overwhelming , knowing what represents the reality of many Méganticois who lost loved ones almost 10 years ago.
We also see in the trailer the effects of the Mégantic drama, all the people who witnessed the drama do not leave without psychological consequences. The firefighter, played by Joakim Robillard, said long after the tragedy, “I sometimes hear voices, screams, howls, from the prisoner world, from the burning world.”
- Hear the interview with Sophie Lorain on the show Sophie Durocher, broadcast live daily at 3:15 p.m. via QUB radio :
The written series finally tells what Quebecers haven’t seen on TV as the drama unfolded over several days and weeks. It is dedicated to Méganticois but not intended for her, as it will no doubt be difficult to see by witnesses and relatives of the victims.
The main characters are also played by Luc Bourgeois, Olivier Gervais-Courchesne, Karl Farah, Simon Lacroix, Catherine Paquin-Béchard, Jean-Philippe Perras, Julie Ringuette, Éric Robidoux, Luc Senay and Carla Turcotte.
It is ALSO, the production company of Sophie Lorain and Alexis Durand-Brault, who is producing “Mégantic”, the latter is also the director. The series will be available on Club illico from February 9th.