In the decade after the launch of Radio-Canada’s television service, a unique style of social melodrama developed; the téléroman. This hugely popular dramatic form captivated viewers and became an enduring feature of French-language television in Canada. La Côte de Sable is one of the classics of the genre. Named for the French-speaking Ottawa neighborhood where it was set at the end of World War II, the series followed the joys and sorrows of everyday life in the Paradis family: Gérard, a federal civil servant, his wife Lucie, their four children, including Étienne, a pilot just returned from Europe, and uncle Georges. La Côte de Sable was distinguished by its fine cast, its period setting, and above all, by the excellence of its writing, by distinguished Quebec playwright Marcel Dubé.

(clip not available)