Ricardo Trogi

(he only speak in french Quebecois)

In the movie 1987, Ricardo Trogi (played by Jean-Carl Boucher) speaks authentic, natural Québécois French — the everyday language of 1980s Quebec City suburbs, with a strong local accent, rhythm, and vocabulary typical of working-class/teenage boys of that era

Accent & Rhythm: Classic Québécois (or “joual”-influenced) pronunciation — fast-paced, with swallowed syllables, nasal tones, and the characteristic “ou” sounds (e.g., “tu” becomes something like “t’su”). It’s lively, expressive, and informal. Jean-Carl Boucher delivers it naturally, sounding like a real Quebec City teen, not “Parisian” French.  • Slang & Swear Words: Heavy use of Québécois sacres (swear words based on Catholic terms, very common in casual speech): • “Ostie” / “Sti” (hostie = host) • “Câlice” / “Câlisse” (chalice) • “Tabarnak” / “Tabarnouche” • “Maudite” (damned), “crisse,” etc. • Combinations like “Sti qu’c’est beau” (as seen in reviews/reactions to the film). • Teen/Colloquial Expressions: • Casual contractions and shortenings: “j’m’en va” instead of “je m’en vais,” “t’sais” (tu sais = you know), “ben” (bien = well), “pis” (puis = and/then). • Loud, boastful, horny teen talk: Bragging about girls, parties, money-making schemes, cars, and clubbing (e.g., getting into Le Dagobert). • Humorous, self-deprecating or exaggerated style when talking to friends — lots of banter, teasing, and “conneries” (bullshit/stupid ideas). • Italian-influenced touches occasionally, due to his heritage (family names, food references, connections for “business”).

The film follows one pivotal summer: Ricardo graduates, parties with friends, pursues girls and independence, gets a job via his dad but sabotages it (damages a BMW), pivots to stealing car radios using “Italian connections,” deals with family fallout (including his dad’s illegal wine operation), and navigates relationships and growing up. It’s humorous, nostalgic 80s Quebec culture (music, fashion, nightlife), but grounded in real teen pressures. Adult Trogi narrates with hindsight, adding irony and warmth.

Ricardo has vague, grandiose ideas like opening a teen disco and making fast money, but no solid post-high-school plan. The summer is chaotic: failed legitimate job at an Italian restaurant (as parking valet), turns to crime, family blow-ups. It ends with him facing consequences but on the cusp of adulthood — setting up later films where he travels to Italy (1991) and enters filmmaking

Girlfriend: Marie-Josée — steady relationship, plans to lose virginity with her, but things go wrong (work incident ruins the night). • Crush: Sarah Delorme — complicates things. • Friends: Core group (Boivin/Laurent-Christophe de Ruelle, Dallaire/Pier-Luc Funk, Caron/Simon Pigeon) — loyal, fun-loving partners in crime and mischief.  • Family: Loving but tense — arguments over jobs, money, and his antics strain things, especially with his dad.

Family: Italian-Canadian heritage (father from Italy). Lives in a modest suburban home in Quebec City with his working-class parents and younger sister. • Mother: Claudette (Sandrine Bisson) — barmaid/waitress, practical, tries to keep the family together, concerned about Ricardo’s future.  • Father: Benito (Claudio Colangelo) — accordion player/valet, somewhat traditional, works hard but gets drawn into illegal wine-making after conflicts with Ricardo.  • Sister: Nadia (around 14, moody teen).

Upbringing: From the previous film 1981, we see his childhood as an energetic, mischievous kid dealing with bullying, family dynamics, and immigrant identity. By 1987, he’s graduated high school but has no clear direction, pressured by parents to get a job.

Ricardo is a charming, cocky, horny, and somewhat irresponsible teenage schemer with a big mouth and entrepreneurial (but often misguided) spirit. He’s: • Outgoing and social — Loves hanging with his tight-knit group of friends (Boivin, Dallaire, Caron), bantering, and chasing adventures. • Ambitious but lazy — Dreams big (opening a 14–18 discotheque) but avoids real responsibility. He’s driven by immediate gratification: losing his virginity, getting a car, entering bars/clubs like Le Dagobert. • Resourceful and opportunistic — Uses his Italian heritage/connections for shortcuts, leading to petty crime (stealing car radios) to make quick money. • Hormonal and romantic — Juggling feelings for his girlfriend Marie-Josée while crushing on Sarah; sex is a major preoccupation. • Loudmouthed and a bit of a “ti-crisse” (Quebec term for a cheeky, egotistical troublemaker), but with underlying vulnerability and family loyalty. He’s funny, self-aware (via narration), and ultimately relatable rather than villainous.

He’s not a hardened criminal or brooding teen — he’s an ordinary, flawed, fun-loving kid from a working-class immigrant family navigating the end of adolescence. The film shows his immaturity causing real consequences, but with humor and affection.

Age in film: 17 years old (summer 1987). • Height/Weight/Build: Jean-Carl Boucher was in his late teens/early 20s during filming but plays a believable average-to-slightly-stocky 17-year-old Quebec teen. Ricardo appears around 5’8”–5’10” (average height for the era/region), with a medium build—not athletic but energetic and youthful, carrying a bit of “baby fat”/teen softness. He looks like a regular suburban kid, not overly tall or muscular

Appearance: Dark brown hair (often somewhat styled or messy 80s fashion), expressive face with a frequent mischievous or eager grin, brown eyes. He wears typical late-80s casual teen clothes: polo shirts (e.g., yellow one in some scenes), t-shirts under blazers/jackets, jeans. In the images you shared, this matches the character’s look across different outfits and settings (smiling in social situations, sunglasses in one, etc.).