Not In My Father’s Footsteps examines the social, religious, economic, cultural and linguistic forces that drive two young, Montrealers—one Jewish from the Main, the other French Canadian of upper-crust Outremont stock—out of Montreal and onto opposite sides of the Spanish Civil War. It’s the 1930s. In Montreal, tensions are running high. French vs. English. Jew vs Christian. Haves vs. have-nots. The city is swirling with unrest. From Outremont to St. Urbain Street, people are struggling to lift off the yoke of strife and despair caused by the most devastating economic depression the world has ever experienced. For young, single men with no jobs, the option is to ride the rails. But that, too, is fraught with danger. For protection they form up in groups, sleep in hobo jungles and challenge strangers. But it offers scant comfort. Police and local officials keep moving them along. Years drag on . They lose hope, drifting to Vancouver. Or labour camps where they’re paid twenty cents a day for meaningless work. Or maybe Spain, to strike back at the fascists. What have they got to lose?
Meet Terrence Rundle West Wednesday, Nov. 30, 7:30-9pm.
