Unarmed Verses
Unarmed Verses | |
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Directed by | Charles Officer |
Produced by | Lea Marin |
Written by | Charles Officer |
Music by | Menalon |
Cinematography | Mike McLaughlin |
Edited by | Andres Landau |
Production company | |
Release date |
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Running time | 86 minutes |
Country | Canada |
Language | English |
Unarmed Verses is a Canadian documentary film, directed by Charles Officer and released in 2017.[1] The film centres on the predominantly Black Canadian former residents of Villaways, a Toronto Community Housing project which is undergoing demolition and revitalization.[2]
The film premiered at Hot Docs, where it won the award for Best Canadian Feature Documentary.[3] In December, the Toronto International Film Festival named the film to its annual year-end list of the ten best Canadian films.[4] It won the People's Choice Award at the Canada's Top Ten minifestival in January 2018.[5]
Synopsis
The documentary follows a year in life of 12 year old Francine Valentine and her family during her involvement in a songwriting and recording program run by Art Starts. Valentine struggles with her lack of self-esteem and self-identity. The film is set in the backdrop of community gentrification and apparent lack of concern for her and neighbourhood.
References
- ↑ "Unarmed Verses shows that Black lives matter". Now, October 4, 2017.
- ↑ "Hot Docs film Unarmed Verses puts uprooted TCH community in spotlight". CBC News Toronto, May 1, 2017.
- ↑ "Hot Docs 2017: And Some Of The Winners Are …". Now, May 6, 2017.
- ↑ "Canada's Top Ten has some glaring omissions". Now, December 6, 2017.
- ↑ "Unarmed Verses wins Canada’s Top Ten People’s Choice Award". Playback, January 22, 2018.