This film takes a non-traditional look at the man and his cultural influence because my interest leads me to see in sport the most universal form of culture. This was the cinematographic approach that Robert Tremblay and I followed on our impromptu shoots with the great player, when we began filming in 1980. Maurice had become a simple citizen again, generous with his time towards his fans, the children and all those he had inspired in one way or another. Alongside this project, I was making documentaries and developing my own style, my personal way of presenting larger-than-life characters. When Maurice passed away in 2000, we kept shooting with his loved ones, family and colleagues, but Robert, already ill, was struggling to finish the film. Before he died in 2018, he entrusted me with the material. I then developed my point of view on our character and sought to express it in my own way. I was not far from Robert’s original vision of the Rocket, demonstrating how he is prevalent in all layers of culture, how his story became a myth. Archival footages highlighting his prodigious career, testimonies from a well-known author, a podcast host, and the contribution of different visual artists helped me to reveal his extraordinary character and his outstanding legacy. Finally, I explored Maurice’s heritage: young hockey players, boys and girls, who fill the arenas of Québec and the Montreal Victoire team of the new Women’s Professional Hockey League.

DIRECTING: Serge Giguère

SCREENPLAY: Serge Giguère, Francine Tougas

PRODUCTION: Sylvie Van Brabant, Sylvie Krasker, Amélie Lambert-Bouchard (Films du Rapide-Blanc)

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Serge Giguère, Katerine Giguère

SOUND DESING: Sylvain Bellemare

EDITING: Benjamin Duffield