Porte Ouverte sur l'Emigration (Immigration...the Journey)

DateSeptember 28 1981

Abstract3/4 in. archival original is transfer from original 2 in. tape. // Dropout throughout. // Episode produced in 1981 by Maine Public Broadcasting for a series titled Reflets et Lumiere II, which explores the evolution of French Americans in Maine. Introduced by two men, the episode features a short comedy play in French and English written by Gregoire Chabot that examines culture shock, breakdown, and conflicting customs for the French Americans. Two couples play immigrants stranded in an automobile that they can not operate, and can not understand the instructions they are given by passers-by in English. Later, their descendants are stuck with a horse-drawn wagon that can not move. In the back they discover boxes containing 'Notre Heritage,' and must decide which items can be discarded so that the wagon will be light enough to move. Shot on location, has no subtitles. Episode concludes with a short dialogue between two French-speaking puppets: one is a log, the other is a potato.