Cynthia Dow, LJI Journalist

CASCAPEDIA-ST-JULES – The 88-minute English version of Lucas, an Endangered Human Species, directed by Gaspésie filmmaker Éli Laliberté, will premiere on Knowledge Network on Tuesday, March 18, at 12 a.m. EST and Wednesday, March 19, at 3 a.m. EST. 

This powerful documentary follows Lucas Larocque-Laliberté, a young French/Mi’gmaq hip-hop artist who happens to live with Down syndrome, and his father as they explore how the world perceives and treats people with Down syndrome (DS). Blending personal storytelling with a broader reflection on inclusion and human diversity, the film challenges societal perceptions and raises an important reflection on the value of human life. 

Already celebrated on the festival circuit, Lucas, an Endangered Human Species received the Humanitarian Award at the Festival Vues sur mer and has been nominated for multiple Prix Gémeaux, a testament to its impact. 

Following its Knowledge network premiere, the film will also be available for streaming online, ensuring that audiences across Canada can engage with this compelling story. The 52-minute French version first aired on Radio-Canada’s program Dochumanité last November, and is still available on ici.tv 

Down syndrome is caused by an extra chromosome in the 21st pair of the 23 pairs of chromosomes found in every human cell, and results in mild to severe intellectual disability. Mr. Laliberté’s film asks the value of the life of a person with DS, given the fact that the Quebec government is making testing for DS, also called “Trisomy 21,” readily available to expectant parents. Quebec does not keep statistics on the number of abortions linked to genetic testing, but in Denmark 90% of fetuses believed to have DS are aborted. 

The subject of the documentary may sound grim, but it is littered with happy times as Lucas celebrates with his family, enjoys his high school graduation, makes new friends in Europe, participates in sports activities for DS people in Montreal, and performs rap and hip-hop in Montreal and Belgium. 

“Lucas is teaching us how to navigate becoming who we are. So many people are tired of advocating for acceptance of who they are (e.g. with racial and gender issues). Lucas walks above all this: he sees the human being in others before any of us. He has the key that we are all looking for,” Mr. Laliberté explained.