Fernand's Christmas

202510 min 23 secFilm: Documentary

Direction: François Pierre Breau

Production: Nathalie Cloutier (National Film Board of Canada)Christine Aubé (National Film Board of Canada)

Script: François Pierre Breau

A National Film Board of Canada production.

Supported by his close-knit family, Fernand grows out his beard; dons his red costume, tuque and long black boots; perches small, round glasses on the end of his nose; and heads off with his big bag of toys and candy cane to instill wonder in the children of the Acadian Peninsula. For the little ones, he is the real Santa Claus. Despite suffering from multiple health problems for years and receiving dialysis three times a week, passing up an opportunity to spread joy is out of the question for Fernand. It’s not inconceivable that this holiday magic is keeping him alive. Watching this film, you realize he isn’t playing a part. He really is Santa Claus.

Availability


Subject categories


  • Health and Medicine > Coping with Illness and Dying
  • Seniors > Family LifeHealth and Illness
  • Families > Family Portraits
  • Psychology and Psychiatry > Individual in Society
  • Francophone Communities > New Brunswick

Credits


director
François Pierre Breau
writer
François Pierre Breau
researcher
François Pierre Breau
participation
Fernand Breau
Brigitte Breau
Frédéric Comeau
Marie-Lise Breau
Solange Wehrmann
Noah Richard
David Wehrmann
Florence Wehrmann
François Pierre Breau
Vanessa Haché-Breau
Zachary Breau
Domenic Bro
Martine Lebreton
Alice Bibie Breau
David-Mathieu St-Pierre-Breau
Laetitia Dru
Aline Noël
Marie-Pier Godin
editor
Philippe Angers
sound designer
Dennis Morton
original music
Dennis Morton
director of photography
François Pierre Breau
Domenic Bro
camera operator
Jérôme Luc Paulin
sound recordist
Dennis Morton
Éric Miller
Domenic Bro
production manager
Stéphane Lévesque
D.I.T.
Jérôme Luc Paulin
François Pierre Breau
consultant
Brigitte Breau
re-recording mixer
Isabelle Lussier
online editor
Luca di Gioacchino
colourist
Luca di Gioacchino
motion graphics design
Cynthia Ouellet
visual effects
Cynthia Ouellet
subtitles
difuze
executive producer
Nathalie Cloutier
producer
Christine Aubé
line producer
Geneviève Duguay
production administrator
Justine Chevarie-Cossette
Victoire Bessette
Karine Desmeules
Sia Koukoulas
senior production coordinator
Audrey Rétho
technical coordinator
Daniel Lord
Jean-François Laprise
technical support - editing
Pierre Dupont
Patrick Trahan
Albert Kurian
technical audio support
Bernard Belley
versioning & accessibility coordinator
Sylvie Azoulay
additional music
Brigitte Breau
senior marketing strategist
Laurianne Désormiers
marketing project manager
Geneviève Bérard
marketing coordinator
Michelle Rozon
publicist
Sophie St-Pierre
legal advisor
Julie Patry