My First Tales For All and One of my Favorites
The first time I had the chance to see Tadpole and the Whale was on television when it was broadcasted on Radio-Canada (CBC), like Bach and Broccoli. But as for this film starring Fanny Lauzier, Marina Orsini and the late Denis Forest, who became known in Canada thanks to this film and who made a career in the United States in movies such as The Mask with Jim Carrey and television series like The X-Files, it was my very first Tales For All and it’s one of my favorites.
Film shot in Quebec at the North Coast, but also at Florida and the Caribbeans, Tadpole and the Whale tells the story of Daphné, an exceptional child known in her village for her incredible hearing which allows her to capture in the water inaudible sounds, but is also known for her communication skills with aquatic animals such as whales and dolphins. Notably Elvar, a dolphin who wanders into the local waters every summer and loves to play with Daphné, whom he has become friends with from their first meeting. Alongside this companion comes around a young couple by the name of Julie and Marcel, the latter whose late grandparent was a former resident of the region. During this week of vacation, this city couple will spend time at an inn whose managers are the parents of Daphné and Alexandre, our heroine’s brother. Of the owner, whom Daphné calls Grandpa Hector, he unfortunately plans to sell the inn and its shores to businessmen who want to rework the area under their own ideas. Which will affect the location, the shores and the surrounding nature, especially the presence of Elvar who may never return. A situation that does not please Daphne, her brother, and Grandpa Thomas, brother of Hector, who won’t hesitate to speak of this to his brother.
So, in this family-oriented comedy, we get a lot of hilarious, but also dramatic moments. In a story shot at the Métis Gardens. Tourist place that I visited in my youth during the summer of 1994 and which amazed me with its many floral species. A magnificent place that I recommend everyone to visit. Other filming locations include Île Nue and Longue-Pointe de Mingan for the boat scenes, but also Florida and the Caribbean for the scenes with Elvar the dolphin. Obviously, we are talking about geographical regions located outside Canada. But the way the production was shot, you don’t even realize that these scenes were shot in hotter climates. Therefore, hats off to director Jean-Claude Lord and his team for choosing their filming locations appropriately to create good consistency between the various filming locations. Something that is not always obvious when we see American movies which want us to believe that they wer shot in certain American states when we can clearly see by the natural light, the palm trees, the desert climate, and the geography that the production was shot in California.
But more than a family comedy, Tadpole and the Whale is a superb environmental movie about the links between humans and animals. Notably the harmonious co-existence between them, but also the harmful sea pollution. Indeed, in the story we have a whale which has found itself caught in fishermen’s net. And of this situation, another example of the human impact on marine life. Moreover, this real sequence, originally shot during a documentary on Jacques-Yves Cousteau in the Canadian oceans, was the source of inspiration for Mr. Jacques Bobet’s screenplay for Tadpole and the Whale. Therefore, this fusion between the documentary sequence and the Tales For All production, a beautiful cinematographic initiative which saved the team from using overly complicated special effects.
In its production, the movie is shot with a superb cast of actors. From Marina Orsini, known for her role as Emilie in Les Filles de Caleb, which she would shoot shortly after Tadpole and the Whale, to Denis Forest mentioned above, and finally Fanny Lauzier, who became known in Quebec thanks to this film and which I saw in other family productions, but also in the Scoop series. An excellent actress perfect for the role of Daphné and who deserves all the success she has had. As for her chemistry with Elvar the dolphin, she shines on screen and having read the information sheet in the Blu-Ray box, it is fascinating to learn all the complicity between the two and in particular their moving departure at the end of the shoot which moved the whole team. Incredible mention to Jean Lajeunesse who is impeccable as Grandpa Thomas and who superbly transcribes that man’s wisdom. His last movie role, an incredible performance.
Just like the music from Guy Trépanier and Normand Dubé’s film, which impresses us right from the start of the film. Synthesizer music much like it was done in the 1980s. Impeccable soundtrack that beautifully captures the greatness of the story.
In short, Tadpole and the Whale is among the best hits of the Tales For All series by Rock Demers and is a beautiful gem in 1980s French Canadian cinema.
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