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The motion picture industry has done it again! They’ve picked up on something that happened in Quebec and covered it; both as reality and fictionalized entertainment. Whether these two pieces of television mastery are worth the paper their scripts were written on is up to you, but you’ll have to watch them first. So put down the books, pop some corn, and let your television take you through the fascinating world of Quebec’s great maple syrup heist.
First, the reality.
In season 1, episode 5 of the Netflix series “Dirty Money,” viewers are given an inside look at the province’s OPEC-Like Maple Syrup Industry, and the $18 million inside theft that had authorities wondering if the initial complaints were actually real. Price fixing, a Global Strategic Reserve system, a regulatory body that borders on protecting and crushing its members, and some people who saw the BIG money aspect, provide all the drama and intrigue the average viewer needs.
The FPAQ (Federation des Producteurs Acericoles Quebec/ Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers) was founded to help stabilize a product that had individual farmers living hand to mouth, and season to season. It grew to a massive legislative juggernaut that sent maple prices through the roof and brought prosperity to those in the industry. It also limited the who and how much of production, which led to internal strife, especially among small producers. The documentary does a good job of having viewers switching back and forth between which side is deserving of their support.
The main point however, is the insider theft involving a Mafia-connected warehouse owner, a black market dealer, and an international exporter. Yes, this is all for maple syrup! What are the specifics and how did it end- you’ll have to watch and see for yourself.
Now the fiction.
Prime Video released the 6-episode series “The Sticky,” based on the theft. It portrays the inside job as a disgruntled warehouse security guard (closely resembling the real life truck driver Sebastien Jutras), teaming up with a disgruntled farmer (based on the real life Anti-FPAQ Angele Grenier who was never involved in the theft) and a mob errand boy pretending to a boss in his family (presumably based on the real life Avik Caron).
Most of the characters are highly fictionalized country bumpkins, but viewers are treated to a legitimate badass element when Jaime Lee Curtis shows up as the muscle for the crime family.
While the documentary has viewers flipping back and forth on their allegiances, The Sticky does not, as it portrays the FPAQ (fictionalized to "The Association") as an evil, overbearing, universally hated group.
The majority of the series follows the 3 anti-heros as they plan and re-plan their eventual heist in the face of constantly changing circumstances. Feel good at times, irritating at others, suspenseful and often comedic, this series has a little bit of everything including heavy accented English and an abundance of Quebec curse words . How does it end? Like the documentary, you’ll have to watch to find out. Will there be a second season? That probably depends on viewership- so get to it.
The Dirty Money episode is just under an hour, and the 6 Sticky episodes hover around the 45 minute mark each. Whether it’s all spread out, or binge watched on a weekend, give these two a try and let us know what you think… and how much maple syrup you ran out and bought after!