Genres: documentary

  • This is the end of me

    On September 15th, 1830, during the opening ceremony of the first major railway line in Britain, the member of parliament for Liverpool, William Huskisson, attempted to cross the tracks but was struck by the train and died of the injuries he sustained. “This is the end of me” sets out on a true documentary mission – to delve into this historical event – but gets continually sidetracked …. It’s about history, technology, memory, chaos theory, Canada, eyesight, books, trains, speed, death, and Saskatchewan. The film is visually as eclectic as its narration, including documentation (photos, paintings, diagrams, maps); footage of…

  • Tiny Bubbles

    A discreet sharing of secrets.

  • To Be a Somebody

    Three young men, diagnosed as having learning problems when teenagers, are seen around ten years later, carrying on their lives as young adults and holding jobs. The effects of their learning difficulties are sensitively explored. How they cope, the jobs that they have chosen and their relationship to their employer is shown to be related to the history of support they have had from family and friends. “To Be a Somebody” is a careful, sympathetic look at the process of parents, peers, and the young people themselves adapting to living with learning problems.

  • Big Adventure, The

    “The Big Adventure” is a mind-boggling subway ride that can best be described as a daily commuter’s dream come true. The time-lapse photography film was shot on Toronto’s University subway line. The ride starts at the top (Wilson) and races to the bottom (Union) at a simulated speed of 350 miles per hour! Although it appears to be one continuous run, the film is actually a compilation of seven trips down the line shot between 2:00 and 9:00 o’clock in the evening.

  • Trees and Elevators

    An expressionistic documentary contrasting technology (elevators) and the natural environment (trees). The filmmaker makes no judgement concerning these two, but rather tries to show the interconnections between the natural and technological worlds.

  • Trials of Eve, The

    This poetic and provocative film uses art, drama, and original music to address the complex issues of women’s place in society, including the relationship between men and women, the oppression of women, and the role of religion and other cultural institutions in the victimization of women. These issues are explored in a historical as well as contemporary context. Myth and story-telling combine Canadian West Coast Native imagery with the Adam and Eve story to create a positive vision of change and transformation for both women and men.

  • BINGO

    How is it that bingo has such a hold on people? What does it take to be a winner? What does luck have to do with it? “Bingo” is an exploration of these questions from the inside out. The “bingo mind” is formed with the belief that there isn’t enough to go around and you’re lucky if you get some. The social and ritual elements of the game are captured in the textures of the images and sounds created to explore the themes of winning and losing. The stylized dramatizations of childhood memories provide the backdrop for the “script” of…

  • Under the Lizards

    The spirit of modern Polish society is embodied in a rich cultural heritage. Internationally celebrated filmmaker and artist David Rimmer reveals Polish life through a montage of live music footage, personal interviews with artists (primarily musicians), and everyday images. This poetic documentary captures the essence of a people who have maintained an undying commitment to artistic expression despite historical challenges. Included are reflections on the emergence of jazz music at a time when it was banned by the state, the changeover from communist rule to a free marketplace, and the role of women artists in Poland. Award: Best Documentary (Arts…

  • Unicorn

    An unexpected encounter between a small boy and a toy unicorn is intended to encourage children’s imagination through the suggestion of magic. This visual poem includes an elementary school study pamphlet which explores the art of story-telling, introduction of myth and an awareness of changing cityscapes. French and English study guide availabe.

  • Unknown Soldiers

    “In ‘Unknown Soldiers’, Veronika Soul uses experimental film techniques to create a visual and aural mélange that features children’s harrowing tales of wartime Japan, a retelling of ‘Godzilla,’ a Japanese tourist atop the Empire State Building, and a meditation on the role of the hamburger in the life of a traveller… Hers is an original, amusing and sometimes distrurbing vision of East-West relations.” – Karen Cooper, Director of Film Forum, NYC