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documentary

HotDocs ’22: The Smell of Money

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Alas, somethings rotten in the state of North Carolina. And it’s not just the pig waste.

Directed by Shawn Bannon, The Smell of Money takes the viewer into the depths of the American pork industry. Processing tens of thousands of pigs per day, Smithfield Foods remains the lead powerhouse in the North American pork industry. However, through their willingness to ignore the waste created by their own farmers, they have also become a toxic influence on the local communities. From the unbearable smell to health risks such as pfiesteria, Smithfield’s negligence has resulted in massive environmental damage that threatens the viability of its community and reveals their willingness to sacrifice the living conditions of the average person for their own gain. 

Powerful and moving, The Smell of Money is a shocking look at the neglect of big business and the lengths that they will take to secure their investment. (Not to mention the fact that Bannon’s journey into the world of the pork industry is far more harrowing than one might expect.) Through brutal corporate tactics, Smithfield Foods continues to show a total disregard for the health and well-being of those around them. While they’re more than willing to hire those to create their product, the pig waste they produce is not their problem. With an eye on their financial returns, Smithfield Foods does everything they can to maintain business-as-usual while absolving themselves of responsibility for those in the local community.

In other words, profit outweighs people. 

Interestingly, however, what sets Money apart is the way that it moves beyond mere corporate neglect to explore its undercurrents of race and abject poverty. With a neighbourhood consisting mostly of people from the Black community, Smithfield’s recklessness shows little care for the people of the area as most of them too poor to stand up against them. (In fact, one judge even suggests that, ‘if these conditions affected areas of affluence, they would’ve been dealt with much more quickly than they have been.’)

Remarkably though, the community bands together to fight back. With every legal battle and victory, residents such as Elsie Herring and her fellow activists send a message that their lives matter. Despite the terrifying pressure that Smithfield applies, this community refuses to submit to their corporate bullying. Powerful and empowering, Money serves as an encouragement to the oppressed and challenges them to fight for their rights, even if the odds remain stacked against them.

The Smell of Money is now playing at HotDocs ’22. For screening information, click here.

HotDocs ’22: Make People Better

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Directed by Cody Sheehy, Make People Better tells the story of Dr. He Jiankui, a Chinese geneticist who made waves by producing the world’s first genetically-edited babies in 2018. Although Dr. He’s work was feted at first by the Chinese government, the ensuing pandemonium over the ethical implications of his work quickly led to his disappearance. As the scientific community grapples with his boundary-breaking work, so too must they ask themselves whether or not there is a cost to their desire to make people better.

Anchored by testimonies from a whistleblower, multiple scientists and even Dr. He himself, Make People Betteris a gripping exploration of the boundaries of scientific achievements and the ethical questions that they create in the process. Under a veil of intrigue, Sheehy uses the conspiracy surrounding Dr. He’s disappearance to drive the narrative. In doing so, Better maintains the drama of a suspense thriller without ever sacrificing the most essential information. As geneticists unlock the secrets of the human genome, so too do they discover the seemingly limitless possibilities of preventing disease before it strikes. 

Even so, the most challenging questions within the film remains one of moral responsibility. Faced with the opportunity to eliminate disease and improve the human experience, Better asks whether or not we have truly considered the ethical questions involved in doing so. 

Are we leaning towards the next level of human evolution? Or are we simply playing God by altering the natural world? 

In this film, both arguments seem to be true. Delving into the murky moral waters, Better frequently takes a more balanced approach by acknowledging the challenges of leaning into the future. Without scientific advancement through genetic research, the human race may be passing up opportunities to bring much needed help to the global population. For example, because of their willingness to weather the storms of controversy, scientific developments through genetic research such as IVF now find themselves widely accepted. (As the film argues, ‘just because something is controversial, it doesn’t mean that it’s bad.’) 

At the same time, adapting the genome in this way almost feels as though we are playing with nature. Though the scientific community remains committed to achieving their scientific dreams, there is almost a sense of recklessness in their endeavors. In the same way that Dr. He pushed forward with his own research, many in the community work tirelessly to achieve without considering whether or not they should move forward. For every scientific victory, so too can that work be used for more nefarious purposes.

Exciting and sharply executed, Make People Better is a gripping thriller of one man’s achievement and the forces that work against him out of fear. Conversely, Sheehy’s film also holds a humility towards human life that counterbalances the drive for scientific and technological advancement.

After all, just because we can make people better, it doesn’t always mean we should.

Make People Better is now playing at HotDocs ’22. For screening information, click here.

HotDocs ’22: Don’t Come Searching

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Directed by Andrew Moir, Don’t Come Searching is an unflinching look at what it means to struggle with the oncoming view of death and the strength it takes to keep going. Committed to caring for his family in Jamaica, Delroy Dunkley’s financial situation demands that he leave them for six months each year for seasonal work in Canada. Excited to ask his partner Sophia to marry him upon his return, Delroy’s situation takes a dramatic turn when he’s diagnosed with terminal cancer. Sending shockwaves through his family and calling Sophia to take on the role of caregiver for her ailing love and children.

Although at first Searching tappears as though it’s going to focus on issues of economic uncertainty for migrant workers, the film quickly changes course with news of Delroy‘s condition. All of a sudden, the film takes on a deeper sense of urgency and credit must be given to Moir for his ability to handle each scene with grace and sensitivity. Delroy’s openness provides an honest and intimate portrait of a man whose primary concern remains his family. 

However, as the cancer begins to spread, the story gradually shifts from Delroy‘s illness to Sophia’s strength. With each passing day, Sophia is tasked to take up the burden of being a parent, doctor and caregiver. Even though she herself is struggling deal with her family’s situation, she must become the emotional bedrock of her family. Wrestling with questions of faith and financial stability, Sophia does her best to keep things stable within the home. In many ways, the film is a powerful portrait of love as Sophia never gives up on her partner, even as things continue to worsen. The weight of mortality weighs heavily on her shoulders as she must navigate the challenges of moving forward, even as her children have difficulty fully understanding the moment. 

Don’t Come Searching could have become a film about healthcare in the face of abject poverty, faith and loss or several other topics. However, ultimately, this is a film that struggles with the strength that it takes to support The one you love in the midst of the worst of circumstances.

To hear our interview with Andrew Moir, producer Michelle Serieux and Sophia Malahoo-Dunkley, click here.

Don’t Come Searching is now playing at HotDocs ’22. For screening information, click here.

HotDocs ’22: My Old School

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Set in 1993, My Old School tells the story of Brandon Lee, a 17-year-old fifth year Canadian who became a student at Bearsden Academy, a high school near Glasgow. Brandon was a model student who was on the way to becoming a future doctor. However, in reality, everything about him was a lie. Strangely, Brandon’s real name turned out to be ‘Brian McKinnon’, a 32-year-old man who was not from Canada at all.

When the story broke, ‘Brandon’ quickly became worldwide news. After all, why would a grown man want to pose as a teenager unless something sinister was behind it? My Old School details the life of Brian (played here by Alan Cumming), as he attempts to relive his glory years by becoming the popular kid once again. More than this though, his hope was to achieve his dream of enrolling in university for medicine, something that Scotland will not allow anyone over 30 to do. Directed by Jono McLeod, School interviews present school faculty, classmates and, of course, ‘Brian’ himself for their perspective on the story.

More importantly though, the film offers a unique look at what a lot of us would love to have in our lives: a second chance at life. With age and experience, few people would pass up a chance to redo everything that they know now. In the case of Brian, he was able to do just that. Even though he was living a lie, Brian was able to have cool friends, get the grades he wanted, play lead in the school show, go on the vacations he wanted and even get into the University of Glasgow to study medicine.

Overall, My Old School has a sense of sadness about it, especially for Brian. Whereas one might judge him for his actions, it seemed that he truly only did what he did in order to make something his life. Liked by those around him, his classmates still have a fondness and admiration for him to this day. 

My Old School is screening at HotDocs ’22. For screening information, click here.

HotDocs ’22: The Killing of a Journalist

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Directed by Matt Sarnecki, The Killing of a Journalist begins with the brutal murder of Slovakian journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kusnirova in February of 2018. Having built a reputation for investigating financial improprieties amongst the elite, Kuciak had begun to focus his energy on exposing suspected criminal Marian Kocner which, unbeknownst to him, put him in increasing danger. After Kuciak’s death, the potential cover-up by police and government officials infuriates the people and inspires them to protest the injustice unfolding before their very eyes.

Although Killing of a Journalist begins with the (literal) killing of a journalist, so too does it expose a far greater evil. Featuring testimonies and footage from police investigations, Journalist uncovers a conspiracy that quite literally extends all the way to the highest parts of Slovakian government. Honest and terrifying, this expansive tale of the criminal underworld unravels the strength of one man’s grip on a nation as he is allowed navigate his own system of leadership and justice, without concern for the law. Corrupted police investigations, bribed judges on the take and paid assassins reveal the horrifying realities of anarchic ruling powers and their effect on the people. However, it also means that Journalist contains all the elements of the best Hollywood dramas and makes for riveting viewing from start to finish.

What is most interesting about the film though is its concern for the truth. As the public rally behind his family, Kuciak’s death comes to symbolize the death of truth within the walls of their own country. For the people of Slovakia, this tragic murder exposes the desire of a corrupt system to hide secrets at the expense of those who want to bring them into the light. All of a sudden, these events inspire the people to demand truth and justice. As a result, their public outcry helps spark a movement that shakes the entire system to its core, exposing the corruption that lies embedded deeply within it. 

The Killing of a Journalist is now playing at HotDocs ’22. For screening information, click here.

Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen

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Fifty years ago, the goddess of film criticism, Pauline Kael, called Norman Jewison’s Fiddler on the Roof “the most powerful movie musical ever made.” I wouldn’t dream of disputing that assessment. To be sure, Fiddler is not only among the most powerful musicals, but among the most emotionally powerful films. As the fiftieth anniversary has come, Daniel Raim’s making-of film, Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen, gives us a chance to took back on that film and remember just how powerful the story and the storytelling are.

(If for some reason, you have never seen Fiddler, by all means find a copy [libraries are often a good source of films] and spend three hours in the life of Tevya and his neighbors in early 20th Century Anatevka. Tevya is one of the finest theologians you will find in films. But that is the subject for a review of the original film.)

Jewison was recruited to produce and direct an adaptation of the hit musical, which in turn was based on a series of short stories by the Yiddish writer Sholom Aleichem. It is the story of a Jewish peasant dairyman in a Russian shtetel. He has five daughters, and he feels the pressure of having to marry them all off. But even more important, the story focuses on the changing of traditions and how we adapt to a world that is being turned upside down.

Fiddler’s Journey takes us through what was involved in making the film. It includes interviews with Jewison; John Williams, who adapted the music for the film; Topol, who played Tevya, and the three actresses who played Tevya’s daughters. This film serves as a good overview of the collaborative process that goes into making a film. It touches on how the casting was done, the changes that had to be made in the music, the production design, cinematography, and finding a location. Each of these pieces are important to the end product.

The last quarter of the film touches on what made the film important. The actors share what it meant for them to be part of this, but at a deeper level, we see that Fiddler spoke very much to the time it came out. That too was a time of upheaval and the challenging of traditions. Traditions have continued to undergo changes—from ideas of family, to the meaning of patriotism, to how baseball is played. As such, Fiddler is still a film that can speak to us.

One of the stories Jewison recounts is that when they asked him to make the film, he asked back, “What would you say, if I said ‘I’m a goy?’” The response was “What would that matter…. We want a film for everybody.” That reflects what Fiddler became. This story of a Jewish peasant in a far-off country is really a universal story—and a timeless on. The village name Anatevka from Fiddler became the name of a displaced persons camp in Ukraine a few years back. And as we watch the news and hear of new people being driven from homes, we know that the Tevya’s story is still going on.

Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen is showing in select theaters.

Photos courtesy of Zeitgeist Films and Kino Lorber.

They Call Me Magic – A magical life

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“He’s still the most popular athlete in Los Angeles, and that’s saying something.”

There is just something about Earvin “Magic” Johnson that make you want to like him. Maybe it’s the smile that lights the whole world. Maybe it’s the way he can either put the ball in the hoop or pass it off (without looking) for a teammate to do it. Maybe it’s the way he has faced adversity. Maybe it’s the way he has become a business success. All of those are shown in the new docuseries They Call Me Magic on Apple TV+.

The series gives us a look into this man who has done so much, not only in his sports achievement, but in what he has done after his playing days were ever (much too soon). The four episodes, for the most part, are a chronological look at his life. The first two episodes are fairly pedestrian sports biography. However, watching Magic do his thing on the court can hardly be called pedestrian. The two later episodes are what really show us what the man has had to deal with and how he has overcome and conquered beyond the sports world.

The series makes the point early on that there are two people here: Earvin Johnson, Jr. and “Magic” Johnson (a name given him by a local sportswriter after his second high school game). Magic is the one who dazzles the world—whether with no-look passes or lavish parties. Earvin is quieter. He is a father and husband (more on that later). He is now a businessman who strives to build community.

While I may sound like I downgrade the first episodes, they do lay a lot of the groundwork for what we see in the later ones. For example, we have to understand his drive for perfection in sports to understand his drive in the business world. We need to see the on-and-off relationship with his (eventual) wife Cookie, to understand his role as a father. We need to see how he lived with fame to understand how he lived with HIV. We need to see how he was nurtured by Lakers owner Jerry Buss to fully understand how he could be come a mentor to those who received scholarships from Johnson’s foundation.

For all the talk of the Earvin/Magic dichotomy, there are many ways that the two sides of the man blend well. That is especially true of how he became a prominent spokesperson for HIV. When he was first diagnosed, he and the team kept it quiet for as long as they could. When the news broke, he became the most famous HIV-positive person in the world. Not only his fame, but his drive and personality led him to become very public about the disease, how he caught it, and what it meant to his family life. This was at a time when being HIV-positive usually meant death.

Likewise, his two demeanors blended well to grow his business enterprises, from movie theaters to Starbucks to now three pro sports teams in L.A., including the Dodgers. The blue collar work ethic he learned from his parents combines with a concern for the Black community (especially following the 1992 civil disturbance) to build not only his wealth, but to make the world a better place because of what he is doing.

Even so many years after he played basketball, everyone still knows and loves Magic Johnson. They Call Me Magic gives us an opportunity to meet and appreciate Earvin Johnson as well.

They Call Me Magic streams on Apple TV+.

Polar Bear: Happy Earth Day to You

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No matter the species, everyone needs a home.

Directed by Alastair Fothergill and Jeff Wilson, Disneynature’s Polar Bear follows the journey of a mother and her cubs as they attempt to navigate the incredibly challenging environment ahead of them. From struggling to find food and safety to staving off predators, these polar bears struggle to survive in their unforgiving terrain.

Set against the cold Arctic tundra, Polar Bear is an engaging journey into the lives of a mother bear and her two cubs. Narrated by Catherine Keener, the film keeps to the franchise’s pattern of adding natural storytelling to its visuals. Whereas other nature films tend to emphasize the more scientific or creative aspects of the environment, Disneynature has always taken a different approach. Dating back to the 1960s and Walt’s ‘true life adventures’, Disneynature has always sought to make the harrowing journeys of its subjects more relatable and understandable. With an empathetic tone, Keener speaks about the bears in such a way as to almost humanize them as we learn about their world. For instance, although watching a polar bear hunt a leopard seal could be hard to watch, Keener’s perspective and warmth describes these moments as necessary. We understand that these arctic beasts need to eat in order to survive and feed her children. In doing so, Polar Bear actually manages to create heroes and villains in a world where no such things apply.

Disneynature’s POLAR BEAR – Photo by Jeff Wilson. ©2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

As always, Polar Bear features some stunning footage of that brings the world to life. There’s a cinematic feel to these films that makes one wish that they could be enjoyed on a big screen as opposed on Disney+. Even so, its visuals remain impressive to the eye. By pulling back the camera, Polar Bear emphasizes the incredible scope of the terrain. In doing so, it also reveals how small these massive beasts of the winter truly are when held up against the massive ice floes. 

What’s more, one of the best aspects of Disneynature’s storytelling is their ability to show unexpected details. Brief moments such as breaking ice in order to hunt or the challenge of escaping predators help provide the viewer with a window into the experiences of the bears that other nature docs fail to capture. 

Disneynature’s POLAR BEAR – Photo by Florian Ledoux. ©2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

As we follow this family, we understand that one of the great challenges they face is to find a home. (Again, this simple reference somehow makes their experiences relatable to the viewer.) Amidst the challenges of melting ice floes and changing migration patterns of their prey, this mother and her cubs struggle to find a place to settle. The Arctic tundra is an unforgiving space, especially in the midst of global warming and other related issues, so they must keep moving in order to survive.

In this way, the film serves two purposes. On one level, Polar Bear highlights the beauty of creation and builds an appreciation for these animals in their natural habitat. On another, it also feels like a call to action. Because we now know these gentle beasts, we feel more concern about them and want to help them find safety and security. This love of environmental action has always laid at the heart of Disneynature films and helps them become more practical in their application. 

Disneynature’s POLAR BEAR – Photo by Florian Ledoux. ©2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

In the end, Polar Bear fits very neatly into the environment of this franchise. By helping us get to know these giants of the Arctic, Disneynature also continues to challenge its viewers to help join the battle to save them.

After all, everyone needs a home.

Polar Bear is available on Disney+ on Friday, April 22nd, 2022.

Inside the Uffizi: Curating Our Story

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In an Instagram world, have we come to take the ‘image’ for granted?

Built in 1561, the Uffizi Gallery contains one of the world’s largest collections of Renaissance art and is filled with millions of visitors each year. Now, in the new documentary Inside the Uffizi, the viewer is treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the famed museum and the incredibly difficult task of conserving, renewing and presenting classic works of art in their proper light and context.

Directed by Enrique Sanchez Lansch and Corinna Belz, Inside the Uffizi is an intimate look at the stunning pieces that line the halls of the famed Italian gallery. However, rather than dazzle the viewer with frenetic pacing or the intensity of drama, Belz and Lansch intentionally slow the film down with close-ups of the paintings amongst the Uffizi collection. As a result, with long takes that emphasize every detail of each piece, Belz and Lansch plead with the viewer to breath in every curve, stain and artistic idea.

Admittedly, this decision is almost jarring at first. (After all, in a frenetic world, how often do we truly pause to reflect upon beauty?) Even so, the directors are relentless in their approach. Like the artisans that work in the Uffizi, Lansch and Belz want the art to take centre stage. Yes, the role of the staff are essential (as we see throughout the film) but they understand that the art is what takes priority and that requires attention to detail.

Interestingly, this inability to reflect also becomes one of the greatest complaints amongst the staff of the Uffizi. With Instagram on their minds, guests speed through the museum, merely glancing at what’s before them. Their insistence on taking in everything as quickly as possible reveals a lack of appreciation for the complexity of the art before their eyes. (“All they care about is taking pictures on their phones,” one staffer insists.)

However, as the film progresses, it becomes a sort of engrossing rhythm that draws the viewer in to help them appreciate the details of what’s before them. Uffizi’s slow-down mentality reveal the incredible attention to detail that it requires to properly display these incredible pieces. Arguments ensue over the nature of lighting and windows. Paint colours that are not exactly the right tint requires the process to begin again. At every possible opportunity, curators and preservationists at the Uffizi fight to present these pieces in their proper glory. 

Incidentally, one of the most fascinating aspects of the film is its emphasis on light. Light breaking through the windows at the right time in the right way is examined to determine the proper way to view these pieces. They understand that even the slightest deviation away from perfection can cause a great work of art to appear ordinary. (At one point, they even argue this certain statue is ‘unhappy’ if shown in the incorrect manner.)

But why do so with such intensity? Can the casual viewer actually tell the difference in presentation? Curators of the Uffizi certainly believe so. To them, however, what is most important about these pieces are not merely the pretty paintings themselves but the story behind them. In one particularly lighthearted moment, a child suggest that the museum is a place where they keep ‘old things’. Without missing a beat, the tour guide handles this comment with care and points out that these ‘old things’ are not nearly valuable due to their age but because they shine a light on the story of humanity. Anchored by this belief, each staffer at the Uffizi understands that their role is to present windows into history and works tirelessly to do so with the utmost of accuracy.

As such, there’s a seriousness about Inside the Uffizi that recognizes the importance of our story. Although the film will have its detractors for being ‘slow’, the decision forces the viewer to engage the moment with intentionality. In doing so, Uffizi does exactly what the gallery most desperately wants to accomplish. 

It lets the art do all the talking.

Inside the Uffizi is available on VOD on Friday, April 15th, 2022.

Alaskan Nets: Character on the Court

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Competitive sports mean a great deal to many families around the world. But, in some areas, it’s the very heartbeat of the community, providing much needed distractions from the challenges all around them.

From executive producer Chris Pratt, the new documentary Alaskan Nets brings the viewer to the remote area of Metlakatla, Alaska’s last remaining native reserve. Home to the Tsimshian Natives, the Metlakatlan community is defined by their fishing industry and their passion for basketball. As their local high school team the Metlakatlan Chiefs gear up for their new season, their goal remains winning the State Championship, a feat they have not accomplished in over 35 years. Led by their coach DJ King, the Chiefs embark on an improbable run that they hope will help them leave their mark on their school’s—and state’s—history.

Directed by Jeff Harasimowicz, Alaskan Nets is one of the more heartwarming sports films in recent memory. Telling the story of one school’s quest for glory for the first time in 35 years, the joy of Nets stems from its honesty as we quickly realize just how important the potential championship would mean to the remote fishing community. In this remote corner of Alaska, basketball has become the primary outlet for the community. Set against the harsh background of the wilderness, the entire community turns to basketball for joy in the midst of difficult times.

However, there is more to this film than jump shots and three pointers. While the championship may be the driving force of the narrative, there is as much happening off the field court then on it. For example, although basketball may be the town’s passion, Metlakatla is a fishing town and all those who live there are expected to be a part of that tradition. Fishing and diving are dangerous work and the toll that it has taken on the community is apparent from the beginning. Lives are often lost amidst the treacherous seas yet the industry remains the primary source of income for the community. As a result, emotional family losses weigh heavily on the kids as their lives outside sports seem like an endless struggle.

Interestingly, Harasimowicz takes more of a team approach to his filmmaking. Rather than delve too much into the lives of the players, he focuses on their journey together through wins and losses. As the team works towards their championship dreams, they are reminded what it means to work together and put aside their differences for the sake of a common goal. Along the way, while the championship remains the goal, their life skills are developing as well. In this way, winning become secondary, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

In this way, Nets also speaks to the power of teamwork and the power of adults who mentor the youth. As the students navigate their difficult personal situations, teachers and coaches continue to remind them that this is only the beginning. Fully aware of the realities that await them outside of the school walls, the teachers and staff work tirelessly to prepare them for life off the court. Emphasizing education can be a challenge in a community where fishing apprenticeships take priority but they continue to fight for their students’ futures. In particular, Nets focuses a great deal on the role of Coach DJ King in their lives as he pushes them to be better players on the court and better people in the everyday world. Though his focus is on the care of his students, Coach King suffers abuse at the hands of parents and struggles to keep his players focused on living lives of respect. 

Both heartwarming and heart-wrenching, Alaskan Nets is an absolute delight. Without giving any spoilers, the journey of this team is something to behold as they claw and scratch their way through the season with a championship held firmly in view. More importantly though, as they work together, so to do they grow together as young men. Because of the love and support of their teachers and staff, these players are reminded that their lives matter more than the events that take place on the court.

And that’s worth more than gold.

Alaskan Nets is available on VOD now.