| I received an email from my cousin recently about a screening for a film she was recently in. Not knowing anything about the project, when I arrived at Vancity Theatre I was pleased to find that it was part of a 4-film program for the 10th Vancouver International Women in Film Festival, an event I didn’t even know existed but am happy to know about now!
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In 2014, Michelle Kee was awarded a place in Vancouver`s prestigious Crazy8s film competition. This is her end-product currently making its run through the festival circuit. Plans for distribution are in the works, so unfortunately, you may not be able to catch this gem online for free at the moment. However, if you happen to be in one of the towns where it will be screening be sure to check out how a young boy navigates through a moral dilemma and transforms his shame into an act of triumph.
Watch an interview with Michelle for the Vancouver Sun here.
All the Time in the World – Disconnecting to Reconnect
Seeking perspective Suzanne Crocker decided to disconnect from the Information Age so that she could focus her time on something that matters more: time with her family.
To accomplish this, together with her husband, Gerard, and their three children, Tess (4), Kate (8) and Sam (10), the five of them pack up a bunch of necessities to live in the Yukon wilderness for 9 months including the brutal northern winter, without electricity, running water, and many of the other luxuries a lot of us use at will and take for granted. An important rule was also made to not bring any clocks or watches. As Suzanne recounts, “To get the freedom of time again we had to free ourselves of the structure of time.”
I was immediately hooked in the opening minutes when one of the daughters with forthright honesty adorably explains that in preparing for a move like this, one must first pack up all their stuff and the following should be noted – this is very boring. She soon after mentions something I wasn’t expecting from a child of this decade – she is looking forward to this because there will be no electricity and no Internet which means mom doesn`t have to work. How refreshing it is to hear this in a time where it seems all I tend to hear about with kids is some kind of Internet, video game, or cellphone addiction.
As the film moves on, we learn more and more about the distinctiveness of each of the family members. The film has excellent balance and one is able to make a connection with everyone and even the pets, with the exception of the grey cat which is conspicuously absent for most of it.
What makes this film work is the likeability of the cast, the chemistry between family members combined with an astute sense of editing and selection of heart-warming, often amusing moments that are unscripted, real, and relatable. What happens on Halloween is absolutely priceless!
For city-dwellers, be wowed by the creativity and self-sufficiency of the family. Be charmed by the humour, innocence, and candidness of the children. One is reminded also of the importance of parents as role-models and leaders in the development of the children they bring into the world.
Crocker was the only cast member in attendance today but in April next month, she will return for the International Film Festival for Youth this time accompanied with the rest of her family and I will likely re-attend for this opportunity to hear from them about their perspectives on the experience.
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