Series Mania Hidden Gem: Quebec’s ‘Empathy’ Finds the Funny in a Mental Health Crisis

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Suzanne Bien-Aimé, it’s fair to say, is a hot mess.

As we introduce the main character in the latest French Canadian series, Empathy, she stumbles out of bed, unkempt, suffering from a hangover, donning an old and worn bra and panties, and walks barefoot across the debris of a poutine takeout.

Stepping into my kitchen this morning, there he was – last night’s hookup. We tried to pick things up where we left off, but it didn’t go as planned. The situation became uncomfortable and Suzanne broke down in tears. In the pouring rain, I hurriedly left, only to realize that my car wouldn’t start. A heated argument ensued with my neighbor as I showed up late and soaking wet for my first day at a new job – a psychiatrist position dealing with the criminally insane at Montreal’s Mont-Royal Institute.

Florence Longpré, author and star of Empathy, notes that Suzanne is a multi-layered character and has an untidy quality which made her delightful to portray. She reveals that Suzanne is undergoing recovery from a significant trauma, depression. Interestingly, Longpré experienced a severe bout of depression in her youth, and she found it intriguing to embody the sensation of being trapped in darkness for an extended period and the liberation felt when you emerge from it.

In a new display of her acting prowess, Longpré shines once more, this time in “Empathy”, following her captivating role in the 2022 Quebecois series “Audrey’s Back”. In this production, she portrays a coma patient who was involved in an accident on prom night, only to awaken a decade and a half later, still clinging to her teenage self. The show, a blend of everyday drama and surreal elements, took home the Grand Prize at the Canneseries television festival, with critics praising Longpré’s performance for its delicate balance between comedic absurdity and heart-wrenching drama.

Through her character, she treads a path that reflects Empathy. Across the series, which made its debut in competition at the Series Mania TV festival on Thursday, we explore the intricate aspects of Suzanne’s family life and the roots of her depression, yet there are frequent moments of awkward humor that persist.

Longpré admits that making people laugh on camera feels much harder for him. He can handle expressing trauma with ease, but humor poses a challenge due to its intricate rhythm and delicate balance. It’s quite tricky, he notes.

For Thomas Ngijol, who portrays Mortimer, Suzanne’s fellow care worker and eventual friend at Mont-Royal in the show Empathy, the task was quite different. Known for his work in stand-up comedy in France, this is his first significant role in a dramatic production.

In Empathy, Thomas Ngijol plays Mortimer, Suzanne’s colleague and friend at Mont-Royal. Unlike Suzanne, who has extensive experience with dramatic roles, Thomas is a stand-up comedy star in France. His first major role in a dramatic production, it presented a unique challenge for him.

Ngijol expresses that the experience was well beyond his usual comfort zone and presented a significant challenge for him. He admits that he’s been cautious about revealing too much of his personal side in his previous work. However, this show offered an exciting opportunity to step out of that comfort zone. Additionally, the fact that he could participate from Canada instead of France was advantageous because it allowed him to showcase a different side of himself, as in France, he is primarily known for his comedic roles.

The Canadian-produced show titled “Empathy” marks the first time a Canadian series has participated in Series Mania, serving as a notable showcase for our domestic television industry.

As a passionate fan, I’m proud to be part of Canada’s one-of-a-kind bilingual platform. We create captivating content in both French and English, and we debut our scripted series in both English and French Canada – a truly distinctive trait. In this role as the VP of development, content, and information at Crave, I’m eager to engage in discussions about co-productions and collaborations, anything that helps increase viewership for our shows.

Landry believes there are growing chances for collaboration between Canada and Europe, particularly following the election of Donald Trump in the U.S. Discussions at Series Mania, according to Landry, have remained unaffected by Trump’s tariff disputes and aggressive posturing. She notes that Crave’s bilingual and diverse programming strategy creates a “natural affinity” with European broadcasting networks.

Longpré and Ngijol, at least, are hoping to extend their on-screen French-Canadian cooperation.

Ngijol shares, ‘It’s been great starting the second phase of my acting career so far from home! Although I tried my hand at comedy in France, I found myself feeling more at ease in drama roles and I’m eager to revisit that genre.’

“And I need him back for the second season!” says Longpré, “so fingers crossed.”

Empathy premieres on Crave on April 10.

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2025-03-27 19:55