Montreal·Absolutely Quebec

Montreal Southeast Asian community's fevered pitch

Cricket & Parc-Ex: A Love Story is about a Montreal South Asian community who lives for its love of cricket. The documentary takes us inside the world of cricket and the daily life of Parc Extension – one of Canada’s poorest and most vibrant immigrant neighbourhoods.

Cricket & Parc Ex airs Saturday July 16 at 7 p.m.

Cricket & Parc Ex: A Love Story airs Saturday, July 16 at 7 p.m. on CBC Television ( courtesy reFrame Films)

Suk, 66, immigrated from Guyana over 40 years ago and now sells and repairs cricket equipment in the basement of his Parc-Ex grocery store.

He's just one of the subjects in a documentary about a pastime catching a Montreal neighbourhood by storm.

Also featured are Raiyan, a 17-year-old aspiring cricket star who came to Montreal only two years ago from Bangladesh, and Huma, Alishba, Samar  and Eeman, a group of four girls of Pakistani origin who challenge the belief that only boys can play cricket.

For immigrant cricket players in Parc Ex, cricket offers an arena where they can find success and community recognition as they slowly integrate into Quebec society. (Courtesy of ReFrame Films)
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Little known in Quebec, cricket has hundreds of millions of fans worldwide. For immigrant cricket players in Parc Ex, cricket is a buffer, an arena where they can find success and community recognition as they slowly integrate into Quebec society.

Featuring an original score by Montreal musician SoCalled, this documentary by Barry Lazar and Garry Beitel is an insightful essay on the trials and triumphs of establishing new roots in Quebec. 

Though little played in Quebec, cricket has millions of loyal fans worldwide. (Courtesy of ReFrame Films)

It airs as part of the fifth season of Absolutely Quebec on Saturday, July 16 at 7 p.m. on CBC Television.

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