Loyalties – Double Allégeance movie synopsis. Lily and her three youngest children join her husband David Sutton, a doctor in an isolated northern Alberta town. Their eleven-year-old son arrives later from boarding school. David conceals a dark secret which caused the family to leave England without telling anybody. They befriend a neighbor Rosanne, who throws out her boyfriend after he beats her up in a bar. Lily, who is very English and out of place in the town, hires the half-Native Rosanne as a housekeeper, and eventually the two women become good friends, until the secret emerges again.
Loyalties is a compelling film about the unlikely friendship between two women – Lily Sutton, an upperclass Englishwoman and Rosanne Ladouceur, a native woman who has been hired as housekeeper. Gradually they overcome barriers of race, class and nationality to forge a hardwon friendship.
This drama explores the complexity of noble human traits, like loyalty and love, in conflict with a powerful argument for justice. Dr. David Sutton and his wife Lily have an argument that, unknown to them, is witnessed by their teenage son. The upshot is that they must move to a remote town in Alberta, Canada where no one knows them.
Loyalties (also known as Double Allégeance) is a 1987 British / Canadian drama film written and directed by Anne Wheeler. Starring are Kenneth Welsh, Tantoo Cardinal, Susan Wooldridge, Vera Marin, Diane Debassige, Tom Jackson, Jeffrey Smith, Meredith Rimmer and Yolanda Cardinal. It was shot in Lac la Biche, Alberta.
Film Festivals and Awards
Créteil International Women’s Film Festival 1987 – Grand Prix, Anne Wheeler
Genie Awards 1987: Best Achievement in Costume Design – Wendy Partridge
Genie Awards 1987 Nominations:
Best Achievement in Direction – Anne Wheeler
Best Motion Picture – Ronald Lillie, William Johnston
Best Original Screenplay – Sharon Riis
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role – Kenneth Welsh
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Tom Jackson
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role – Tantoo Cardinal
Best Sound Editing
Loyalties – Double Allégeance (1987)
Directed by: Anne Wheeler
Starring: Kenneth Welsh, Tantoo Cardinal, Susan Wooldridge, Vera Marin, Diane Debassige, Tom Jackson, Jeffrey Smith, Meredith Rimmer, Yolanda Cardinal
Screenplay by: Sharon Riis
Cinematography by: Vic Sarin
Film Editing by: Judy Krupanszky
Costume Design by: Wendy Partridge
Set Decoration by: John Blackie
Art Direction by: Richard Hudolin
Music by: Michael Conway Baker
Distributed by: Cinema Group
Release Date: March 21, 1987
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