Cross My Heart (2017)
A tender yet fierce French-Canadian drama about childhood, survival, and defiance set against the turbulent backdrop of Quebec's 1970 October Crisis.
Cross My Heart - Movie Information
- Original Title: Les rois mongols
- Release Year: 2017
- Directed by: Luc Picard
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 42m
- Original Language: French
- Spoken Languages: French
- Release Date (Theatrical): September 22, 2017 (Canada - G)
- Alternative Titles: Hand auf's Herz (DE), Клянусь сердцем (RU)
- Production Companies: Écho Média
- Production Countries: Canada
Cross My Heart - Plot
12-years-old Manon promises her younger brother, Mimi, that they will stay together, despite their difficult family circumstances and the ominous signs of being put into foster care. During the height of Quebec's FLQ Crisis in 1970, they stage their own rebellion by kidnapping an elderly woman and hiding her in the country, aided by their two cousins.
Cross My Heart - Trailer
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Cross My Heart - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Luc Picard
Main Cast
- Milya Corbeil-Gauvreau
- Henri Picard
- Anthony Bouchard
- Alexis Guay
- Clare Coulter
- Julie Ménard
- Maude Laurendeau
- Jean-François Boudreau
- Martin Desgagné
- Sophie Cadieux
Writers
- Nicole Bélanger
Producers
- Stéphanie Pages
- Luc Châtelain
Cross My Heart - FAQs
Is Cross My Heart based on a true story?
Cross My Heart is based on a novel by Nicole Bélanger, set against the real historical backdrop of Quebec's October Crisis of 1970, when the FLQ (Front de libération du Québec) triggered a major political and social upheaval. The children's story itself is fictional, though rooted in the era's turbulent atmosphere.
What is Cross My Heart about?
Cross My Heart follows Manon, a determined 12-year-old who vows to keep her younger brother Mimi by her side despite their family's collapse and the looming threat of foster care. Set during Quebec's 1970 FLQ Crisis, the children and their cousins kidnap an elderly woman and flee to the countryside in a desperate bid for freedom.
Who are the main actors in Cross My Heart?
The film stars Milya Corbeil-Gauvreau as Manon and Anthony Bouchard as her little brother Mimi, with Henri Picard and Alexis Guay as their cousins. Clare Coulter plays the kidnapped elderly woman, while Maude Laurendeau and Martin Desgagné portray the children's troubled parents.
What does the FLQ Crisis mean for the film's story?
The October Crisis of 1970 serves as a powerful backdrop, mirroring the children's own rebellion. While Quebec society is gripped by political kidnappings and the invocation of the War Measures Act, Manon and her siblings stage their own small, personal act of defiance — a poignant parallel between history and childhood desperation.
Who directed Cross My Heart?
Cross My Heart was directed by Luc Picard, a celebrated Québécois filmmaker and actor known for his deeply humanist storytelling. Picard adapted Nicole Bélanger's novel with sensitivity, crafting a period drama that balances the innocence of childhood with the harsh realities of social instability in 1970s Quebec.
When was Cross My Heart released?
Cross My Heart had its Canadian release on September 22, 2017, with a G rating in Canada. The film premiered to warm reception in Quebec, where its historical setting and emotionally resonant story of childhood resilience struck a chord with audiences and critics alike.
How long is Cross My Heart?
Cross My Heart runs for 102 minutes — just over an hour and forty minutes. It's a well-paced drama that gives its young characters room to breathe and develop, making the emotional stakes feel genuine without overstaying its welcome.
What are some movies similar to Cross My Heart?
If Cross My Heart resonated with you, you might enjoy Full Time (2022), Vermiglio (2024), and Our Struggles (2018) for their intimate family dramas, or Magnetic Beats (2021) for its period French-language atmosphere. The Falcon and the Snowman (1985) also shares themes of youthful rebellion against a political backdrop.
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