Robin Aubert’s dark and whimsical crime dramedy “Welcome to Kingston-Falls” has its global debut in the International Panorama section at Series Mania. The six-episode series showcases its first two episodes at the Lille festival, with a scheduled broadcast on Radio-Canada later this year.
Produced by Encore Television and Lynx Films, this French-language series features Maxime Le Flaguais in the role of the conflicted investigator Gabriel Serpent. In 2023, Le Flaguais was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for best lead performance in Joëlle Paquette’s film “Rodeo.” He is joined by Marie-Ève Milot (“Mirador,” “True North”), Martin Heroux (“Ravenous,” “4 et demi…”) and others. Encore Television Distribution is responsible for international sales.
Set in the fictional rural town of Kingston-Falls, inspired by Aubert’s childhood in Danville, Quebec, the series follows Serpent as he investigates a disfigured corpse while trying to keep his small-town police station from shutting down.
Aubert, who has a background in both film and television within Québec’s independent scene, takes on the roles of creator, writer, and director for all six episodes. In a conversation with Variety at Series Mania, he discussed the challenges of balancing dark humor with violence, crafting the series, and developing its visual style.
The series opens on a darkly absurd image. How did you land that balance between humor and violence?
I believe this balance comes from a desire to portray life authentically. Life is filled with absurdities that are hard to believe unless experienced. I think we should embrace playfulness more. Melodrama can stifle the poetry and joy that are inherently human. Laughter serves as a powerful defense against negativity. It’s uncommon to go a day without a smile, and I think television should offer more opportunities for that. People deserve to smile.
As creator, writer, and director of the series, did you find the level of authorship across the project shaped the series’ voice and cohesion?
Absolutely. The deep emotional and logistical involvement allowed me to understand where to allocate resources and what elements were crucial. It’s akin to playing chess with a friend, making strategic moves with enjoyment.
The investigator Gabriel Serpent is a very interesting character. Can you speak about his development?
Serpent’s character evolved piece by piece, much like the visuals in the series. Each day reveals more about him. My creative process involves mystery and personal experiences. For instance, his relationship with his father mirrors my own. Simple dialogues and subtext carry significant weight. I also call my father “Pop” in reality. They often mention a character named Manon, whose identity remains a mystery to me. I intend to explore this in future writing.
Kingston-Falls seems idyllic on the surface. What interested you about disrupting that kind of small-town setting?
I’ve filmed most of my works in my village or nearby, including this series shot in Danville, near Kingsey Falls, where I grew up. The characters are based on real people, though fictionalized. I depict reality as I perceive it, with a colorful and timeless approach. My region has an idyllic charm, which makes it an ideal backdrop to challenge that picture-perfect image. Combining beauty with ugliness creates powerful scenes.
How did you approach the visual style to support this blend of crime and dark comedy?
We utilized cameras that had been unused on shelves for years. I aimed to revive the video texture from two decades ago, appreciating its grain and constraints. I believe restrictions foster creativity. Modern cameras are too sharp, producing uniform images. I wanted colors like oranges, browns, and earth tones to evoke autumn’s rough yet luminous feel, offering the audience a distinct experience.
