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March 13, 2009
New Canada Films Available at Hamersly
Thanks to a generous gift from the Government of Canada, the following films are available at the Hamersly Library for research and enjoyment by Canadians, friends of Canada, students, faculty, staff and community members. Scroll down for descriptions. Visit the National Film Board of Canada for more titles.
Aftermath: The Remnants of War directed by Daniel Sekulich
Champions of the Wild: Polar Bears directed by Ian Herring
Dead in the Water directed by Neil Docherty
Earth to Mouth directed by Yung Chang
Escape to Canada directed by Albert Nerenberg
Growing Up Canadian produced by Hoda Elatawi
Kainayssini Imanistaisiwa: The People Go On directed by Loretta Todd
My Doukhobor Cousins directed by Ole Gjerstad
Our Nationhood directed by Alanis Obomsawin
The Other Side of the Picture directed by Teresa MacInnes
Project Canada executive producer Johnathan McFarlane
Redskins, Tricksters and Puppy Stew directed by Drew Hayden Taylor
Souvenir of Canada directed by Robin Neinstein
Aftermath: The Remnants of War directed by Daniel Sekulich
War has a dirty secret: it never really ends. Aftermath: The Remnants of War weaves archival images and personal stories into a powerful portrait of the lingering devastation of war. Based on the Gelber Prize winning book by Donovan Webster, this insightful film reveals the twentieth century as the most violent in all of human history, with a death toll of more than one hundred million. Filmed on location in Russia, France, Bosnia and Vietnam, the film features personal accounts of individuals involved in the cleanup of war: from de-miners who risk their lives on a daily basis, psychologists working with distraught soldiers in Bosnia, a treasure hunter turned archeologist in Stalingrad, and scientists and doctors struggling with the contamination of dioxin used during the Vietnamese war. The poignant stories convey a sobering message as we face the realization that war doesn't end when the fighting stops. From Asia to Europe and the Americas, Aftermath: The Remnants of War has been playing to international film festival audiences since its release in November, garnering multiple awards; among them the Gold Medal for Best International Affairs Documentary at the New York Festivals Television Competition, and the First Prize, Gold Camera Award at the US International Film and Video Festival in Los Angeles. The film recently received the UNESCO Prize for Best Humanitarian Film & a Special Jury Award at the 4th International Festival of Environmental Cinema and Video (Fica) in Goias, Brazil.
2001, 73 min 37 s
Champions of the Wild: Polar Bears directed by Ian Herring
Weighing 1,400 pounds, polar bears are lords of the ice--creatures perfectly adapted to the harshest and most unforgiving climate in the world. Biologist and photographer Dr. Dan Guravich has dedicated himself to capturing this creature's magnificence on film. The Canadian-born photographer, who makes his home in Mississipi, has made over 50 trips to the Arctic to practice his art. Through his dramatic photos, Guravich has profoundly influenced our understanding of these mysterious animals.
1998, 25 min 22 s
Dead in the Water directed by Neil Docherty
There's a problem with the world's water supply. One person in four doesn't have access to clean drinking water. Many governments lack either the resources or the will to provide this essential commodity to their citizens. In recent years, a number of powerful companies have spotted this crisis and seen a business opportunity. From the deserts of California to the streets of Soweto, and in several thousand other cities and towns throughout the world, often with the involvement of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, these corporations have attempted to privatize what many consider a public trust. Dead in the Water investigates the results of these efforts at privatization in several key locations, and chronicles what many see as the first in a wave of battles in the years to come.
2006, 51 min 57 s
Earth to Mouth directed by Yung Chang
An hour and a half east of Toronto lies a farm like few others in Canada. The 80 acres at Wing Fong Farm (the name means Forever Bountiful) are planted with crops like gai lan, go lai choy and gau choy - succulent Asian vegetables destined for Chinese markets and restaurants. It is here, near the small town of Newcastle, that Lau King-Fai (known simply as Ma) has come to join her son and spend the rest of her days. It's a long way from her native Hunan Province, but after a tumultuous life in China, she has made this place her home: caring for the young shoots, working side by side with migrant Mexican workers and preparing meals in the farmhouse. Born in 1929, Ma survived the Japanese occupation (during which her father and two siblings died) and the death of her husband during the Cultural Revolution - leaving her alone to support her family. It's little wonder that Ma believes in accepting fate. As she puts it, "Empty thoughts and wishful thinking are useless." Shot over the course of an entire season - from tilling, to planting, to harvest - Earth to Mouth is an exquisitely filmed, meditative look at life on Wing Fong Farm. For Yeung Kwan, Ma's son, the farm represents personal and financial independence. For Ma, it is an oasis of peace. For the half-dozen Mexican workers, it provides jobs that may be tough, but help support their children back home. Each in their own way, they endure the rigours of farming and savour their moments of peace.
2002, 41 min 33 s
Escape to Canada directed by Albert Nerenberg
«Canada is hip.» TV host Bill Maher
Around the world, Canada is known for its beavers, Mounties and winter climate, but a new image of the country is emerging. Director Albert Nerenberg, the man behind the indie-doc hit Stupidity, explores Canada's new personality in this high-energy feature film, Escape to Canada. The story begins in 2003 when by apparent coincidence, gay marriage is legalized and the prohibition of marijuana is removed on the same day. Soon Canadians are not the only ones enjoying their newly forged liberties. Citizens from «The Land of the Free» flock across the border to marry their same-sex partners. Others come to smoke marijuana. AWOL U.S. army soldiers arrive seeking refugee status. To many, Canada has become a red-and-white beacon of freedom around the world. In other words, cold Canada could suddenly be cool. Escape to Canada examines the nation's unlikely 'freedom fighters' who challenge laws and old customs, then must confront the consequences. A couple, known as the Michaels, unleashes the gay marriage trend with their own impromptu wedding. Marc Emery, 'The Prince of Pot,' travels the country smoking monster joints in front of police stations, daring the police to arrest him. Brandon Hughey, an ex-U.S. soldier, escapes to Canada to avoid America's war for 'freedom' in the Middle East. But within months, Canada re-criminalizes marijuana and suddenly there's a new campaign to turn back gay marriage. In his signature no-holds-barred style, Nerenberg weaves these compelling stories into a tongue-in-cheek argument for Canada's place in the world.
2005, 81 min 02 s
Growing Up Canadian produced by Hoda Elatawi
Growing Up Canadian is a social history of 20th-century Canada. Six one-hour documentaries explore the myths and realities of Canadian childhood through family life, schooling, introduction to the workplace, play, health and the media. The series marks the contribution of childhood and youth experience in defining Canada as it grew into full nationhood in the 20th century.
2003, 280 min
Growing Up Canadian: Family Directed by Susan Terrill
Canadians of all ages tell stories of growing up with mom, dad, siblings and even the family pet. From making underwear out of flour sacks to scrounging for coal, most Canadian families were poor for the first half of the 20th century. Set against the backdrop of a country moving from rural dominion to urban nation, this episode follows changes in family homes, cars and neighbourhoods. Throughout the episode, stories of family rituals, rules and discipline highlight dramatic cultural changes in the century
2003, 46 min 47 s
Growing Up Canadian: Health Directed by Susan Terrill
Early campaigns to fight poverty and disease and help children grow up healthy led to the introduction of the school nurse, nose blowing drills and lice inspections. From open-air schools to confusing sex education classes, Health was a part of the curriculum throughout the last century. This episode traces the rise of dental care, from early century programs in schools to dentists traveling to remote areas by boat or train. Canadians recall terrifying epidemics and lengthy periods of quarantine. Home remedies were frightening enough to keep children from complaining about being ill. Over the course of the century we see the impact of public health care on children's lives.
45 min 52 s
Growing Up Canadian: Media Directed by Susan Terrill
Canadian children in the 20th century witnessed an explosion of innovations in communication and entertainment . Witnesses recall the first time that they saw the telephone, a movie, the television, the computer. Media intrigued children and often made parents suspicious. Canadians of all ages talk about the books, radio shows, TV programs, music and movies they loved as children. From listening in on the party line to watching newsreels, children became connected to an ever-expanding world. Media changed the definition of growing up Canadian
2003, 46 min 48 s
Growing Up Canadian: Play Directed by Susan Terrill
Canada's biggest playground, winter, leads the way as we look at a century of play for Canadian kids. In the beginning you made your own gear and toys, but some store-bought things were irresistible. What Canadian girl, in her time, wouldn't want an Eaton's Beauty doll or a Barbara Ann Scott doll? And what boy, swept up in a cowboy craze, wouldn't die to have a Gene Autry gun or a Lash LaRue whip?
Throughout the century, adults helped to organize clubs, camps and playgrounds--often with the intent of steering children away from trouble. In the end, getting away from adults and crossing forbidden borders have always been a part of the fun.
2003, 46 min 52 s
Growing Up Canadian: School Directed by Susan Terrill
Growing up has become marked in school years but at the beginning of the 20th century most children attended primary school only. This bygone era is wonderfully evoked by still photos and archival film showing what children studied and where, from the one-room schoolhouse to a railway car. School in the 1940s and '50s is brought to life through interviews with adults who remember the first day at kindergarten, feared and loved teachers and encounters with the strap. The '60s and '70s brought television into the classroom and the concept of the open school, which changed the actual building.
2003, 46 min 46 s
Growing Up Canadian: Work Directed by Susan Terrill
From working six days a week in a factory to serving up sundaes at the Dairy Queen on weekends, Canadian children have done it all. In the first half of the century many families couldn't get by without financial help from their kids. The nation counted on its young when it came to wartime; from joining up to fight to tucking a love note in a scarf knit for an unknown soldier, witnesses recall their contributions. Recollections of work include cheapskate bosses, the decision to quit and the experience of getting fired. It was tough working in the coal mines and out in the fishing dories, but even babysitters join in the complaints about lousy conditions and low pay!
2003, 46 min 52 s
Kainayssini Imanistaisiwa: The People Go On directed by Loretta Todd
Windswept prairies, sloping coulees and stretches of open sky - this is the home of the Kainai Blood Indians, in the heart of southern Alberta. Filmmaker Loretta Sarah Todd takes viewers on a visually lush journey, exploring the significance of land, memory and knowledge in Kainai life. The catalyst for this expressionistic journey is the return of belongings of the Kainai, collected by Europeans during colonial times and kept in distant museums. As the community's elders examine the objects and share stories first-hand, they reveal how the rich threads of Kainai life thrive from one generation to the next. From their traditions and language to their sacred beliefs, this is a powerful continuum of culture that cannot be contained in a glass exhibit case. Stylistically blending sound, colour, light and words, this film explores the collective memory of the Kainai that resonates so deeply in their land and their storytelling traditions. Intertwining past, present and future, The People Go On is an eloquent testament to Kainai history, governance and existence.
2003, 69 min 36 s
My Doukhobor Cousins directed by Ole Gjerstad
When Janice Benthin vacationed with her mother's Doukhobor relatives in the Kootenays, she sensed that the community held many secrets: the adults spoke Russian in hushed tones, people kept disappearing, and RCMP officers kept constant watch over the community. My Doukhobor Cousins is Benthin's quest for answers to her childhood questions. The film provides a rare, personal look inside this mysterious spiritual community. Brushing over the differences between competing Doukhobor sects, the Canadian public has tended to see all Doukhobors as dangerous lawbreakers. Bitterness and anger across the lines persist as Benthin and her cousins Lance and Marilyn meet their families, who were torn apart when the government imprisoned hundreds of Doukhobors and forcefully took their children away from them. In this moving portrait of a family in search of its past, we watch as Benthin and her cousins try to reconcile the turbulent history of the Doukhobors with the gentle, troubled people they encounter.
2002, 71 min 18 s
Our Nationhood directed by Alanis Obomsawin
In Our Nationhood, Aboriginal filmmaker and artist Alanis Obomsawin chronicles the determination and tenacity of the Listuguj Mi'gmaq people to use and manage the natural resources of their traditional lands. Our Nationhood provides a contemporary perspective on the Mi'gmaq people's ongoing struggle and ultimate success, culminating in the community receiving an award for Best Managed River from the same government that had denied their traditional rights.
2003, 96 min 40 s
The Other Side of the Picture directed by Teresa MacInnes
Canadian artist Doris McCarthy surveys the landscape of Lake Huron, made famous by her teacher, Arthur Lismer, and other Group of Seven painters. "When I was growing up, I heard, and I actually believed, that there had never been any great women artists. This was the wisdom of the day." At the remounting of The Dinner Party, artist Judy Chicago remarks on her success as a woman artist. "You don't get preserved, you get buried." Two different artists from two generations, but how much have things changed? Filmmaker Teresa MacInnes tackles the debate: Are there no great women artists? The statistics are revealing. At Washington's National Gallery only 1 in every 30 paintings is by a woman. In Canada, women account for a mere 8 percent of the National Gallery's collection. The Other Side of the Picture takes us into the homes and studios of artists such as Mary Pratt, Joyce Weiland, Jane Ash Poitras and Landon Mackenzie, who address the question of inequality in the art world. Traversing the last two centuries of women's art history, this film offers provocative comment on why we are still missing the "other side of the picture".
1998, 52 min 58 s
Project Canada executive producer Johnathan McFarlane
Project Canada tells the story of four Americans that decide to leave everything behind for an epic road trip across the second biggest country in the world. For three months they travel from the East coast to the West coast in an attempt to discover the heart and soul of Canada. Why don't we ever hear anything about Canada? What does it mean to be a Canadian? How do Canadians survive the winter? Through their comical misadventures and experiences the Project Canada team paints a picture of the greatest country you probably know nothing about. 17,000 miles, 60 interviews, 4 Americans, 1 incredible country. Project Canada. http://www.projectcanada.org/
Redskins, Tricksters and Puppy Stew directed by Drew Hayden Taylor
Take an in-depth laugh-a-minute tour of complex issues like Native identity, politics and racism, wrap them neatly inside one-liners, guffaws and comedic performances, and you have Redskins, Tricksters and Puppy Stew. This film hilariously overturns the conventional notion of the stoic Indian and shines a light on an overlooked element of Native culture - humour and its healing powers.
Meet an engaging cast of characters including Don Kelly, one of Canada's hottest young stand-up comics, whose Indian name means Runs Like a Girl. He uses comedy to skewer stereotypes of the apathetic Indian. Sharon Shorty and Jackie Bear from Whitehorse, Yukon, portray Sarah and Susie, two elderly Native ladies discussing their daily activities and their love of Bingo and Kentucky Fried Chicken. And while they've been making people laugh across the country with their portrayal of two quirky elders, they also play a role as community healers.
2000, 54 min 30 s
Souvenir of Canada directed by Robin Neinstein
Souvenir of Canada is a spectacular documentary special about who we are as Canadians at the dawn of the 21st Century. One of our greatest national voices, Douglas Coupland, acts as our tour guide on a humorous journey that "makes us stop, look and marvel at who we are, what we have, and where we might be going." Souvenir of Canada tells a story about a nation searching for itself, and all that is unique about itself, in the darnedest of places, objects and ideas.
2006, 155 min 46 s
Posted by smithr at March 13, 2009 3:22 PM