Excerpts from the film “Saint-Eustache de temps en temps”: the Légarés’ flour and their craft

A montage of excerpts from the film Saint-Eustache de temps en temps produced in 1975 by the Fêtes du Vieux Saint-Eustache. The two millers Donat and Philippe Légaré, along with their sister Lucille, talk about the products that can be made with flours from the mill and the importance of preserving the heritage of Old Saint-Eustache. The selected excerpts are transcribed below with descriptions:

[The scene is shot in sepia. Lucille, Philippe and Donat Légaré are sitting in their kitchens in three rocking chairs.]

Donat Légaré (DL): If you want us to talk to you about flour, we can talk about that. But if you want to know what’s done with the flour, I’d prefer to leave that to my sister [he gestures toward his sister].

Lucille Légaré (LL): With the flour, the buckwheat flour, well, you can make pancakes. If you’re interested in getting the recipe, I can give it to you. It’s very easy. For one cup of flour, you put half a teaspoon of baking powder and you… a little salt, and you just add water. Like a somewhat thin batter, but not too thin. And if you have a wood stove, it’s better [she laughs].

With the wheat flour, you make bread…

[Shot of four loaves of bread and some doughnuts on a table; the camera zooms in.]

…you can make cakes and cookies.

[Camera goes back to the three Légaré siblings.]

Any baking can be made with the wheat flour milled here. People find it very good. We do too, naturally.

Philippe Légaré (PL): [looks at Lucille] Don’t forget the doughnuts.

LL: Ah well baking, doughnuts [she laughs], doughnuts, cakes, everything… with that flour.

[Donat and Philippe Légaré are standing, facing the camera, in front of a portion of the mill. In front of them to the left is a wooden structure. Philippe pets a cat that is on a small protrusion.]

DL: From a cultural perspective, in the interest of Old Saint-Eustache, it would be terrible if the old buildings on rue Saint-Eustache were to be lost. We should do whatever it takes to preserve them.

PL: They’re doing work today, they’re doing research. They’re doing all… all kinds of research to preserve Old Saint-Eustache. They even had a festival last year. And they’re going to, they’re planning to have one next summer. That brings people to us and people to help us preserve what’s been here for a long time.

[A cloudy sky appears on the screen, with atmospheric music in the background.]