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THE LENGTH OF THE ALPHABET

LA LONGUEUR DE L'ALPHABET

By Joe BALASS

COMPASS PRODUCTIONS / LES PRODUCTIONS COMPASS - as DISTR Theatrical, TV, DVD-video, VOD, Airline, World / PROD

Biography - Completed 2013

A biography of the Iraqi-Canadian writer, Naïm Kattan.

Fiffa 2013

Springboard to the World Award

- Year of production
- 2013
- Genres
- Biography, Art - Culture, Documentary
- Countries
- CANADA
- Languages
- FRENCH, ENGLISH
- Duration
- 52 mn
- Director(s)
- Joe BALASS
- Cast
- Naïm KATTAN
- Producer(s)
- Joe BALASS (Compass Productions)
- Synopsis
- The Length of the Alphabet is a documentary featuring internationally renowned Canadian writer, Naïm Kattan. Born in Baghdad in 1928, he immigrated to Canada in 1954. After settling in Montreal in the early 50s, Kattan became a seminal figure forging change and helping to break down some of the ethnic and linguistic barriers between communities. Kattan is the author of almost forty works and he has won many awards and honours such as: the Order of Québec and the Order of Canada. Naïm Kattan still lives in Montreal and works as a writer, critic and teacher. His friends and associates include many artists, social, and political figures such as: André Gide, René Lévesque, André Laurendeau, Jacques Parizeau, Jacques Godbout and Fernand Ouellette. In addition to interviews, the film incorporates movie and photo archives to capture some of the poetry, nostalgia and dynamism that inspired Kattan after he moved to Québec. Through conversations with Kattan, an exploration of his archives, and interviews with some of his better known friends, we discover the fascinating biography and vision of this writer and living witness of the political and cultural evolution of Québec and Canada in the last century.