I watched an excellent film during the 2000 version of TIFF entitled THE TRUTH ABOUT TULLY (sadly, it died the quick theatrical death that befalls many non-mainstream films that appear at the Festival).  What made this film unique was its realistic portrayal of the main characters (a group of Americans who live and work in a farming community).  These people weren't written in either of the usual two Hollywood extremes of "beautiful salt-of-the-earth near-angels who can do no wrong" or "slack-jawed yokels who are here to be mocked and make us city-dwellers feel superior"; they were simply normal people, making both good and bad choices about a variety of things, and dealing with life's challenges in their own way.  Farming wasn't portrayed as being noble, but it also wasn't presented as being a nice, fun, easy lifestyle to which one could retire and relax (one of the all-time great North American myths); it was simply viewed a job that involved a lot of hard work and tough business decisions.

I was reminded of TULLY as I was watching last night's screening of LA DONATION.  This entry on the 2009 Top Ten list is a great study of the daily lives of a bunch of people (specifically the local doctor) who live in a small town in a very remote region of northern Quebec.  Refreshingly, the locals were not portrayed as being any better or worse than their urban cousins; instead, their characters were written as people who experience many of the same issues and problems as those of us who live in big cities.  This fact, combined with a well-told story, fine acting, and gorgeous cinematography, makes LA DONATION a superb addition to the pantheon of great (and often documentary) films that deal with small-town Quebec life.  It receives a release in English Canada later this month, and is definitely worth seeing.

Please note: I write this as someone who has never lived on a farm (although I have spent many weekends and summers at the farms of my relatives), but who has grown extremely tired of having to sit through the Hollywood short-hand of rural = less intelligent or completely unsophisticated.