Filmed in 24 hours by Shannon Walsh and a team of filmmakers, St-Henri, the 26th of August is a chronicle of a traditionally working-class Montreal neighbourhood. Today, the factories are closed and their empty husks are witnesses to a bygone era. The streets are quieter, but in alleyways, neighbourhood shops and schoolyards, St-Henri continues to be an eclectic community whose residents live close together, though often worlds apart. Following several characters over the course of a day, St-Henri, the 26th of August takes the pulse of life in a contemporary community, discovering the contradictions within it.

Filmed in direct-cinema style, the documentary reveals the complexity of our neighbourhoods, capturing moments of humour, insight and emotion. This collaborative project brings together some of the finest documentary directors of their generation. Featuring an original score by Patrick Watson, St-Henri, the 26th of August is a journey through an urban landscape that invites us to encounter unique worlds, as well as an homage to Hubert Aquin’s classic 1962 film À Saint-Henri le cinq septembre.