Dans une galaxie près de chez vous
Encyclopedia
Dans une galaxie près de chez vous (English
: In a galaxy near you) is a Quebec French
language television series that aired on Canal Famille (later Vrak.TV
) from 1998 to 2001, and a movie of the same name, released in 2004. The second movie, Dans une galaxie près de chez vous 2, has been released on April 18, 2008. It is a humorous sci-fi
parody.
space explorers looking for a planet capable of sustaining life, in the year 2034, after the destruction of the ozone layer
through excessive human pollution, prompting the need for a new planet to welcome humankind. The seven crew members venture outside their own galaxy to explore other star system in search of a new planet large enough to sustain 6 billion people. The few habitable planets encountered are ultimately abandoned either because they are already occupied (emphasizing the wrong-doing of invading other civilizations and cultures), or because upon closer inspection they are found to have other problems (cow-sized mosquitoes, high radiation levels, dog overpopulation, unsuitable living environment, ...).
Using the classic sitcom style, the characters' interactions drive the main plot in the same recurring spaceship sets (the bridge, dormitories, medical room, hallways). Occasionally, scenes are shot outside of the ship on alien planets being explored; these generic alien-world scenes tend to be shot in-studio. The satirical humor of the show is heightened by playing on the fact that the characters themselves recognize the farfetchedness of the universe in which they live and much of the series' comic-relief is derived from the look and feel of low-budget set (an alien is obviously a human only painted green, gadgets are recognizable objects, etc.). The script, written by Claude Legault
who also plays Flavien, plays a lot on clichés of all types, word play (especially Quebec slang), parodies and sketch comedy. Many aspects of the show reflect Québécois culture; some scenes involve a complete picture of traditional Quebec.
The starship
, christened Romano Fafard, is led by Captain Charles Patenaude (played by Guy Jodoin
), a presumptuous but endearing man prone to making pompous, solemn declarations (with a knack of screwing up when saying proverbs). Other member include: Flavien Bouchard (Claude Legault
), the radar operator who possesses heightened senses and is in desperate search for his dad (it is learned in the last season that his dad is an alien), Bob Dieudonné Marcellin (Didier Lucien), a black chubby pilot who is best friends with Flavien and who obsesses over two things: food and Petrolia Staneslavsky (Mélanie Ménard). Petrolia is a half-Russian space orphan whose inventiveness seems to cause just as many problems as it solves. She is in a relationship with Flavien. Serge (Réal Bossé) is a humanoid robot Petrolia created, stricken with multiple personalities and abilities who is constantly falling in disrepair. Valence Leclerc (Isabelle Brossard first season and Sylvie Moreau
subsequent seasons) is the ship's psychologist but assumes all medical functions as well. She and the captain are secretly in love. Brad Spitfire (Stéphane Crête
), the resident scientist, is cause for most of the plot conflicts and complications. His main objective is to become captain. He is anti-social, power-hungry, egotistic, Machiavellian
and incredibly weak and sensitive, though generally not of other's feelings. Despite these, actor Stéphane Crête
makes Brad one of the series' most amusing and lovable characters.
The show evolved greatly between the first and last season. In the last episode of the first season, two characters disappeared: Falbo Gotta (Paul Ahmarani
), the ship's soldier, and Mirabella Romario (Pascale Montpetit
), a criminal employed as the ship's doctor. After their departure, Petrolia and Serge filled in their spots.
, a bit like the British Red Dwarf
. A spirit of environmentalism
, humanitarianism
, pacifism
and ethics
is ever-present throughout the series. Sometimes, the social comment on the selfish errors of humankind regarding pollution and war can be misanthropic
, but still hopeful and idealistic
. Most members of the team subscribe to these noble morals, with the notable exception of Brad Spitfire.
The title translates to In a galaxy near you, a pun on the classic cinema advertising line Coming to a theatre near you. It was initially set to be broadcast on a mainstream network under the name Vadrouille de l'espace. Patrouille du cosmos (Space Patrol) is the Quebec French
language title of Star Trek (France
knows it by its original title); Vadrouille de l'espace basically translates to Space Mop. Science-fiction being rare in Quebec
fiction, the main networks ultimately did not accept to risk broadcasting the show. The creators turned to the youth-oriented Canal Famille (the former name of Vrak TV), who welcomed the project. Even though it was presented on a Children's channel, its humour is, while caricatural, often relatively mature and sophisticated.
Opening of the show.
The last sentence is a Parody of Star Trek's Where no one has gone before, from the opening and a Quote from the Tintin album Explorers on the Moon
.
These quotes are some examples of Captain Charles Patenaude screwing up proverbs:
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: In a galaxy near you) is a Quebec French
Quebec French
Quebec French , or Québécois French, is the predominant variety of the French language in Canada, in its formal and informal registers. Quebec French is used in everyday communication, as well as in education, the media, and government....
language television series that aired on Canal Famille (later Vrak.TV
VRAK.TV
VRAK.TV is a Canadian French language Category A specialty channel aimed at youth audiences. VRAK.TV is currently owned by Astral Media.-History:...
) from 1998 to 2001, and a movie of the same name, released in 2004. The second movie, Dans une galaxie près de chez vous 2, has been released on April 18, 2008. It is a humorous sci-fi
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
parody.
Synopsis
The series chronicles the long, futuristic voyage of a team of QuébécoisFrench-speaking Quebecer
French-speaking Quebecers are francophone residents of the Canadian province of Quebec....
space explorers looking for a planet capable of sustaining life, in the year 2034, after the destruction of the ozone layer
Ozone layer
The ozone layer is a layer in Earth's atmosphere which contains relatively high concentrations of ozone . This layer absorbs 97–99% of the Sun's high frequency ultraviolet light, which is potentially damaging to the life forms on Earth...
through excessive human pollution, prompting the need for a new planet to welcome humankind. The seven crew members venture outside their own galaxy to explore other star system in search of a new planet large enough to sustain 6 billion people. The few habitable planets encountered are ultimately abandoned either because they are already occupied (emphasizing the wrong-doing of invading other civilizations and cultures), or because upon closer inspection they are found to have other problems (cow-sized mosquitoes, high radiation levels, dog overpopulation, unsuitable living environment, ...).
Using the classic sitcom style, the characters' interactions drive the main plot in the same recurring spaceship sets (the bridge, dormitories, medical room, hallways). Occasionally, scenes are shot outside of the ship on alien planets being explored; these generic alien-world scenes tend to be shot in-studio. The satirical humor of the show is heightened by playing on the fact that the characters themselves recognize the farfetchedness of the universe in which they live and much of the series' comic-relief is derived from the look and feel of low-budget set (an alien is obviously a human only painted green, gadgets are recognizable objects, etc.). The script, written by Claude Legault
Claude Legault
-Biography:Legault was a star of the Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation and has since appeared regularly on television, stage and film. He is currently part of the cast of the T.V. series 450 chemin du Golf and Annie et ses Hommes and he was part of Le retour...
who also plays Flavien, plays a lot on clichés of all types, word play (especially Quebec slang), parodies and sketch comedy. Many aspects of the show reflect Québécois culture; some scenes involve a complete picture of traditional Quebec.
The starship
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
, christened Romano Fafard, is led by Captain Charles Patenaude (played by Guy Jodoin
Guy Jodoin
Guy Jodoin is a Quebec comedian. He is best known as Capitaine Charles Patenaude in Dans une galaxie près de chez-vous and Sucré Salé.-References:...
), a presumptuous but endearing man prone to making pompous, solemn declarations (with a knack of screwing up when saying proverbs). Other member include: Flavien Bouchard (Claude Legault
Claude Legault
-Biography:Legault was a star of the Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation and has since appeared regularly on television, stage and film. He is currently part of the cast of the T.V. series 450 chemin du Golf and Annie et ses Hommes and he was part of Le retour...
), the radar operator who possesses heightened senses and is in desperate search for his dad (it is learned in the last season that his dad is an alien), Bob Dieudonné Marcellin (Didier Lucien), a black chubby pilot who is best friends with Flavien and who obsesses over two things: food and Petrolia Staneslavsky (Mélanie Ménard). Petrolia is a half-Russian space orphan whose inventiveness seems to cause just as many problems as it solves. She is in a relationship with Flavien. Serge (Réal Bossé) is a humanoid robot Petrolia created, stricken with multiple personalities and abilities who is constantly falling in disrepair. Valence Leclerc (Isabelle Brossard first season and Sylvie Moreau
Sylvie Moreau
Sylvie Moreau, , is a Canadian actress.Sylvie Moreau was born in Montreal, Quebec on December 30, 1964. Both of her parents were teachers and they had 5 children. Sylvie Moreau has two brothers and two sisters, and she herself is a twin to her sister Nathalie. Her siblings all went into the acting...
subsequent seasons) is the ship's psychologist but assumes all medical functions as well. She and the captain are secretly in love. Brad Spitfire (Stéphane Crête
Stéphane Crête
Stéphane Crête is a Canadian actor and comedian from Quebec. He is known for his roles as Brad Spitfire in the Le Canal Famille television show Dans une galaxie pres de chez-vous and Jacques Préfontaine on the Télévision de Radio-Canada miniseries Les Étoiles filantes.In 2002, he won a Gémeaux...
), the resident scientist, is cause for most of the plot conflicts and complications. His main objective is to become captain. He is anti-social, power-hungry, egotistic, Machiavellian
Machiavellianism
Machiavellianism is, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, "the employment of cunning and duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct", deriving from the Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer Niccolò Machiavelli, who wrote Il Principe and other works...
and incredibly weak and sensitive, though generally not of other's feelings. Despite these, actor Stéphane Crête
Stéphane Crête
Stéphane Crête is a Canadian actor and comedian from Quebec. He is known for his roles as Brad Spitfire in the Le Canal Famille television show Dans une galaxie pres de chez-vous and Jacques Préfontaine on the Télévision de Radio-Canada miniseries Les Étoiles filantes.In 2002, he won a Gémeaux...
makes Brad one of the series' most amusing and lovable characters.
The show evolved greatly between the first and last season. In the last episode of the first season, two characters disappeared: Falbo Gotta (Paul Ahmarani
Paul Ahmarani
Paul Ahmarani is a Quebec actor. He was born from the union of two teachers, one from Cacouna, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Quebec and another from the Mediterranean coast...
), the ship's soldier, and Mirabella Romario (Pascale Montpetit
Pascale Montpetit
Pascale Montpetit is a French Canadian actress, born in 1961. In 1990 she won a Best Actress Genie Award for Darrell Wasyk's H and in 2002 for Mario Azzopardi's Savage Messiah, 2 Gémeaux Awards, a Jutra Award and a Mons International Festival of Love Films award. She is also a well-known stage...
), a criminal employed as the ship's doctor. After their departure, Petrolia and Serge filled in their spots.
Background
The series is an obvious parody of science-fiction works like Star TrekStar Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
, a bit like the British Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf is a British comedy franchise which primarily comprises eight series of a television science fiction sitcom that aired on BBC Two between 1988 and 1999 and Dave from 2009–present. It gained cult following. It was created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, who also wrote the first six series...
. A spirit of environmentalism
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
, humanitarianism
Humanitarianism
In its most general form, humanitarianism is an ethic of kindness, benevolence and sympathy extended universally and impartially to all human beings. Humanitarianism has been an evolving concept historically but universality is a common element in its evolution...
, pacifism
Pacifism
Pacifism is the opposition to war and violence. The term "pacifism" was coined by the French peace campaignerÉmile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress inGlasgow in 1901.- Definition :...
and ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
is ever-present throughout the series. Sometimes, the social comment on the selfish errors of humankind regarding pollution and war can be misanthropic
Misanthropy
Misanthropy is generalized dislike, distrust, disgust, contempt or hatred of the human species or human nature. A misanthrope, or misanthropist is someone who holds such views or feelings...
, but still hopeful and idealistic
Idealism
In philosophy, idealism is the family of views which assert that reality, or reality as we can know it, is fundamentally mental, mentally constructed, or otherwise immaterial. Epistemologically, idealism manifests as a skepticism about the possibility of knowing any mind-independent thing...
. Most members of the team subscribe to these noble morals, with the notable exception of Brad Spitfire.
The title translates to In a galaxy near you, a pun on the classic cinema advertising line Coming to a theatre near you. It was initially set to be broadcast on a mainstream network under the name Vadrouille de l'espace. Patrouille du cosmos (Space Patrol) is the Quebec French
Quebec French
Quebec French , or Québécois French, is the predominant variety of the French language in Canada, in its formal and informal registers. Quebec French is used in everyday communication, as well as in education, the media, and government....
language title of Star Trek (France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
knows it by its original title); Vadrouille de l'espace basically translates to Space Mop. Science-fiction being rare in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
fiction, the main networks ultimately did not accept to risk broadcasting the show. The creators turned to the youth-oriented Canal Famille (the former name of Vrak TV), who welcomed the project. Even though it was presented on a Children's channel, its humour is, while caricatural, often relatively mature and sophisticated.
Movie
A movie of the same title and premise was released in 2004. It proved to be a hit with younger and older viewers, and drew very good reviews relatively unanticipated from intellectual critics. It was also groundbreaking for its impressive special effects accomplished with a small budget and a short filming time, and for being one of the few sci-fi Quebec films, along with Dans le ventre du dragon. The second "Galaxie" movie, "Dans une galaxie près de chez-vous 2", was released to theaters on April 18, 2008. A third chapter of "Galaxie" is planned, however only very little information about it has been made public.Quotes
- "We are in 2034. The situation on Earth is catastrophic. The ozone layer has been completely destroyed by the carbonic gas of automobiles, the chemical industries, and the poosh-poosh in little cans. in the end, the earth cooks under the rays of the sun. We must find a planet on which can live 6 billion idiots. The planetary federation turns to the strongest country in the world: Canada. It is Canadian knowledge that has allowed, on October 28, 2034, the launch of the spaceship Romano Fafard, which leaves earth to search the confines of the Universe. Where the hand of man has never set foot."
Opening of the show.
The last sentence is a Parody of Star Trek's Where no one has gone before, from the opening and a Quote from the Tintin album Explorers on the Moon
Explorers on the Moon
Explorers on the Moon, published in 1954, is the seventeenth of The Adventures of Tintin, a series of classic comic-strip albums, written and illustrated by Belgian writer and illustrator Hergé, featuring young reporter Tintin as a hero. Its original French title is On a marché sur la Lune...
.
These quotes are some examples of Captain Charles Patenaude screwing up proverbs:
- "Vini, Vidi, Vici". That means "I'll go, I'll check it out and I'll call you back."
- "After the rain, ... the grass is wet."
- "Julius Caesar invaded Gaul by saying " We just came here to pick up some raspberries"
- "As the great Julius Caesar said " It's a good time... there is no mosquitos."
- "Man is a monkey with car keys."
- "We must take the bull by the horns... because by the tail, it doesn't like that."
- "As said the baron Pierre de Coubertin " Will is like acne, the more you got, the more we see it."
See also
- List of Quebec television series
- List of Quebec movies
- Television of QuebecTelevision of QuebecTelevision in Quebec is an essential part of the culture of Quebec, as well as the rest of French Canada. With over 99% of households owning a television in Quebec, it has the power to reach every Quebecer...
- Cinema of Quebec
- Culture of QuebecCulture of QuebecThe Culture of Quebec emerged over the last few hundred years, resulting from the shared history of the French-speaking majority in Quebec. It is unique to the Western World; Quebec is the only region in North America with a French-speaking majority, as well as one of only two provinces in Canada...
- Science fiction on televisionScience fiction on televisionScience fiction first appeared on a television program during the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary world not limited by the constraints of reality; this makes television an excellent medium...
- Science fictionScience fictionScience fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...