Le cœur a ses raisons explained

Runtime:	approx. 21 min.
Creator:	Marc Brunet
Starring:	Marc Labrèche Anne Dorval
Country:	Canada
Location:	Montreal, Quebec
Language:	French
Num Series:	3
Num Episodes:	39
Network:	TVA

Le cœur a ses raisons (The heart has its reasons) is a French language Québécois téléroman which heavily parodies American soap operas, often involving great exaggeration to ridiculous proportions. Its English title would literally be The Heart Has Its Reasons, but the distributor has chosen to translate it to Sins of Love.^[1] The title comes from Blaise Pascal, a 17th-century French author, who wrote, « Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point » ("The heart has its reasons that reason does not know"). It was written by author Marc Brunet and first appeared on television screens in February 2005 on the TVA television network.

The program was first shown in September 2001 as short segments during the show Le Grand Blond avec un show sournois, and became very popular, thus making way for a full television series. There were 17 short episodes preceding the first series.

The program airs internationally on TV5Monde.^[2] A Polish version of the show, entitled Grzeszni i bogaci (The Sinful and the Rich), premiered on October 25, 2009 on TVN television network.

Synopsis

Doug Montgomery, beauty products tycoon, is discovered dead in his Saint-Andrews manor. His favorite son Brett, who gave up the running of the family company to pursue a career in gynecology is opposed to his twin brother Brad gaining complete control of the company.

Criquette, fiancée of Brett is then the victim of an attempted murder, suffering a gunshot wound to the chest. Emerge Ashley, her previously unknown twin sister and Peter, a rebellious police officer with rather unorthodox methods. It is by taking on the identity of her twin sister at Doug's funeral that Ashley tries to discover the identity of Criquette's assailant.

The reading of Doug's will ignites family rivalries, leaving the company in a precarious position. It is then discovered that Brad is married to Becky Walters, the president of a similar company and that they will have a black baby, Chris, despite Brad's sterility.

On April 28, 2005 the town of Saint-Andrews is hit by an enormous earthquake. It is not until the second series commences on 30 January 2006 that we learn who perished in and who survived the earthquake.

Saint-Andrews then welcomes the arrival of Brenda Montgomery, the triplet sister of Brad and Brett. The viewer learns of the survival of Becky and Brett, who was buried alive by his brother Brad, who pretends to have lost his arms to claim a large compensation payout from the insurance company.

Brenda takes possession of Montgomery International but is blown up during the Christmas special, which was shown in April 2006, setting the manor on fire, where the majority of the cast are stuck.

Who will survive the fire? Will Brenda return in another form? How will Criquette's baby be? Will Peter reveal the Montgomery curse? Will a relationship blossom between Brad and Drucilla? Is Hook's botox flammable?

Episodes

Series 1

1. La mort de Doug (3 February 2005)
2. Le retour d'Ashley (10 February 2005)
3. Le testament de Doug (17 February 2005)
4. La mystérieuse Becky (24 February 2005)
5. L'épidémie à St-Andrews (3 March 2005)
6. A la recherche de Brett (10 March 2005)
7. Les tragiques retrouvailles de Brett et Criquette (17 March 2005)
8. La naissance d'un Montgomery (24 March 2005)
9. French: La demande en mariage (31 March 2005)
10. Le rival des Montgomery (7 April 2005)
11. Criquette en péril (14 April 2005)
12. L'assailant de Criquette démasqué (21 April 2005)
13. Brett et Criquette face à leur destin (28 April 2005)

Series 2

1. L'héritière des Montgomery (30 January 2006)
2. La déchéance de Criquette (6 February 2006)
3. La résurrection de Brett (13 February 2006)
4. Criquette à la rescousse de St-Andrews (20 February 2006)
5. À la recherche de Becky (27 February 2006)
6. Le secret de Criquette (6 March 2006)
7. La supercherie de Brad (13 March 2006)
8. L'ambition de Criquette (20 March 2006)
9. L'attentat à St-Andrews (27 March 2006)
10. L'ange de St-Andrews (3 April 2006)
11. Tragédie aérienne à Saint-Andrews (10 April 2006)
12. Périple infernal dans le désert (17 April 2006)
13. Noël chez les Montgomery (24 April 2006)

Series 3

1. La résurrection des Montgomery (10 September 2007)
2. Le rapt de Doug Doug (17 September 2007)
3. Un amour en péril (24 September 2007)
4. Criquette suspendue entre la vie et la mort (1 October 2007)
5. L'inattendu retour de Brenda (8 October 2007)
6. Le mystérieux mystère entourant la mystérieuse maîtresse du mystérieux Brett (October 15, 2007)
7. À la rescousse de Doug Doug (October 22, 2007)
8. À la poursuite de Ridge (October 29, 2007)
9. Pour l'amour de Doug Doug (November 5, 2007)
10. La félicité de Criquette (November 12, 2007)
11. La fabuleuse interview de Megan (November 19, 2007)
12. La malédiction des Montgomery (November 26, 2007)
13. Le somptueux bal des Montgomery (December 3, 2007)

Casting

• Marc Labrèche

Brett / Brad / Brenda / Clifford Montgomery

• Anne Dorval

Criquette / Ashley Rockwell

• Pierre Brassard

Ridge Taylor

• Pascale Bussières

Becky Walters

• Patrice Coquereau

Lewis

• Michèle Deslauriers

Madge

• Sophie Faucher

Crystale Bouvier-Montgomery

• Macha Grenon

Megan Barrington-Montgomery

• James Hyndman

Peter Malboro

• Élise Guilbault

Britany Jenkins

• Jean-Michel Anctil

Révérend MacDougall

• Stéphane Rousseau

Bo Bellingsworthhhh

• Guylaine Tremblay

Melody Babcock

• Annie Dufresne

Brooke Gallaway

• Anthony Kavanagh

Brock Steel

• Lise Dion

Drucilla Fleishman

• Albert Millaire

Doug Montgomery

• Isabelle Boulay

Googy MacPherson

• Patrick Huard

Bat Wilson

Casting DU Grand blond avec show sournois du cœur a ses raisons

• Pierrette Robitaille Catharina
• Gildor Roy Derek
• Sylvie Moreau Trixie
• Martin Matte Révérend Campbell
• Isabel Richer Misty
• Dominique Michel Crystale
• Patrice L'Écuyer Doug
• Jean-Michel Anctil Bruce
• Josée Deschênes Sœur Rebecca
• Chantal Lamarre Douina
• Guy A.Lepage Brandon
• Isabelle Boulay Brooke

Notes and References

1. Web site: Distraction formats . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20051225041322/http://www.distraction.com/product.asp?nav_id=846&lang_id=E . 2005-12-25 . 2009-03-29.
2. Web site: Programmes TV5MONDE Europe. 2011-10-22. 2012-04-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20120402225958/http://www.tv5.org/cms/chaine-francophone/programmes/p-80-s1-z176-lg0-LE-COEUR-A-SES-RAISONS.htm?prg_id=177826&. live.