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Up to the South

Up to the South is ostensibly a documentary on the south of Lebanon exploring the conditions of the time it was shot, the issues behind those conditions and their representation both in the West and in Lebanon itself. Within this we were trying to tackle two other concerns. One being the terms (and positions) inherent in the discourse surrounding the issues, i.e. terrorism, colonialism, occupation, resistance, collaboration, experts, spokespeople, leadership, the land, etc., and the other being the history and structure of the documentary genre specifically in regards to the representation of other cultures by the West in documentary, ethnography and anthropological practise and the problems/agenda involved from the perspective of the subjects viewed and the practitioners practising. Up to the South challenges traditional documentary formats by positing representation itself as a politicized practice.

Up to the South

NR 1993
The Cola Conquest

The Cola Conquest tells the story of Coca-Cola - the 'sublimated essence' of all that American stands for - and the century-long competition with its rival, Pepsi-Cola. Challenging, fast-paced, irreverent, serious and funny by turns, it explores the delicious paradox at the heart of Coke: How did an innocuous soft drink come to wield such enormous power and assume such significance in so many people's lives? What does it tell us about who we are and what we are becoming?

The Cola Conquest

8.5 1998
Cut the Parrot

In his first film, A Prayer for Nettie, Donigan Cumming had placed Albert at the heart of the posthumous tribute to Nettie, his former model. One year later, he composed Cut the Parrot, a new requiem intended for Albert, who also died amid total indifference. As in his previous film, the film-maker gathered a series of eulogies in honour of the deceased from the people, some close and others not so close, who were emotionally affected by his death. But this film differs from the previous one in that it seems to be based not only on respect but also on an intense anger. Several times Donigan films his own face and angrily tells about how he was informed of Albert's death or about his visit to the morgue to identify the body. From then on the principle behind his cinematographic quest seems clearly exposed: no life, however marginal it may seem, should end in such a way, without any consideration.

Cut the Parrot

NR 1996
Brownsnow

"'Brownsnow' presents a fascinating combination of two artistic visions: Carl Brown's and Michael Snow's. The form of this expressionistic documentary on Michael Snow's artwork is a complete melding of Carl Brown's rich manipulation of the photographic image with the fundamental concepts of Michael Snow's aesthetic vision. Brown's strengths as a portrait photographer are also well-translated to the filmic medium as he situates key commentators on Snow's artwork (Dennis Reid, R. Bruce Elder, Jonas Mekas, Peggy Gale and Regina Cornwell) in various dramatic Canadian landscapes. Like an abstract expressionist painting in motion, Brown's brilliant work as a colourist deftly employs photographic chemistry to create textures and rhythms that vary across each scene and, in actuality, from frame to frame." (Susan Oxtoby)

Brownsnow

NR 1994
L'oreille d'un sourd

A philandering wife and a sleazy womanizing con-man team up to off a troublesome father-in-law in this acid-tinged French Canadian black comedy. Leon, the con-artist makes his living cheating Catholic bingo players by hosting bogus religious pilgrimages. He is involved with a woman, but that doesn't stop him from getting involved with the frustrated Sophie who hates living in a tiny apartment with her lazy husband, her ever-gloomy teenage daughter and her husband's demanding, self-centered father, Emile. Sophie is so desperate to escape and start a new life that she convinces Leon to help her kill Emile who allegedly has $150,000 tucked away. The murder is to occur during one of Leon's pilgrimages. He convinces his son Paolo, an ex-con, to assist. Despite their careful planning, nothing prepares the would-be killers for the surprising result.

L'oreille d'un sourd

9.0 1996
Brakhage

BRAKHAGE explores the depth and breadth of the filmmaker’s genius, the exquisite splendor of his films, his magic personal charm, his aesthetic fellow travelers, and the influence his work has had on generations of other creators. While touching on significant moments in Brakhage’s biography, the film celebrates Brakhage’s visionary genius, and explores the extraordinary artistic possibilities of cinema, a medium mostly known only for its commercial applications in the form of narratives, cartoons, documentaries, and advertising. BRAKHAGE combines excerpts from Brakhage’s films and films of other avant-garde filmmakers (eg, George Kuchar, Jonas Mekas, Willie Varela, Bruce Elder, and others); interviews with Brakhage, his friends, family, colleagues, and critics; archival footage of Brakhage spanning the past thirty-five years; and location shooting in Boulder, Colorado and New York.

Brakhage

7.1 1998
Family: A Loving Look at CBC Radio

Family offers a candid look at CBC Radio in action and the unique cast of characters who make up Canada's coast-to-coast radio family. The film brings home the enormous complexity of producing across six time zones, with the mandate to deliver quality programs, often live, throughout the country. Accomplished filmmaker Donald Brittain was able to capture critical moments of live radio in progress and documents the history and development of CBC Radio.

Family: A Loving Look at CBC Radio

9.0 1991
La voix des rivières

"Rodrigue Jean gives voice to people who have nearly drowned. The story of their disaster and the lessons they have drawn from it make us think that life is born of water and flows somewhat like a river. We are born in a state something like a spring. This spring becomes a stream, we travel through forests, winding our way around obstacles to finally arrive at the river where our water merges with other water, like a new and clear consciousness. There is a proverb which states that great rivers are made up of small streams. In this way we all contribute to something that is greater than us and which carries us along to something even greater still." Herménégilde Chiasson

La voix des rivières

NR 1997
Prophecy, Milestones & Challenges

Tantoo Cardinal stars as Alive, the mother of Jack and Samantha. Her children are learning about their past and, in particular, the Treaty land Entitlement settlement that their First Nation has just completed. This is a story that shows the path that previous generations have foretold and how they laid the foundations for the present generation. We also examine the conflict that land claims have created and how they can be solved. Jack's friend Jeff, a non-Native, is caught between the two groups and must learn what the land claim is and how it can be solved everyone's best interests. This is a story that is being repeated as First Nations Continue to develop and take their place within Canada. Source: 1999 imagineNative Catalogue

Prophecy, Milestones & Challenges

NR 1995
La fête des rois

Benjamin, a 10 year-old boy, lives with his mother Charlotte since his dad, Christophe, left. Charlotte is expecting a child from Henri, but is hesitant to tell her son, whom doesn't know about his soon-to-be stepfather. The day of the Epiphany, Benjamin accepts to go help his grandmother Flore prepare the house for the holiday, since the family celebrates Christmas on January 6th also. The boy has prepared a nice gift for his young cousin Simon, suffering from an odd congenital disease. The night of the party, many surprises await the attendees.

La fête des rois

10.0 1994
Tom Green: Tonsil Hockey

Tom Green once again delivers comedy that foams at the mouth with his second salivating release. Last spring's Something Smells Funny was the surprise salvo of the season and this one should be no different. Since then Canada's favorite son, whose U.S. cable show now draws more than two million viewers a week, has signed a movie deal with a major Hollywood studio and has graced the covers and insides of every hip publication and TV talk show. Tonsil Hockey is packed with outrageous full frontal assaults as Tom sticks his tongue way out there at and into our cozy preconceptions and going so far as to play tonsil hockey with sidekick Glenn Humplik. But, if you don't like this jam, just get the puck outta here!

Tom Green: Tonsil Hockey

7.0 1999
The Fishing Trip

In this moving drama, three young Canadian women embark upon a journey to face and lay to rest their painful pasts. Though Kirsti (Jhene Erwin) is twenty-one and living independently as a college student, she remains haunted by horrible memories of being raped by her stepfather Harold (Jim Kinney). He also performed this vile act on her little sister Jessie (Melissa Hood). Unable to bear the psychological anguish, Kirsti decides to confront her abuser and so visits her mother (Diana Tabak) only to find that Harold and his son Jacob (T.J. Grist) are at their fishing cabin up north, the very place where the attacks first occurred.

The Fishing Trip

6.5 1998
With Grandma

When her parents leave her behind for the first time, Madeleine sees them off with tears in her eyes. Fortunately, her grand-mother is there to coax her out of her sadness. Grandma's house is full of surprises, including a chest full of costumes perfect for dress-up. Together they play and bake. Slowly, Madeleine discovers that Grandma seems to know exactly how to have fun. Adults will reminisce about cherished moments shared with grandparents and reflect on the nature of memory. Younger children will be delighted by young Madeleine's adventures.

With Grandma

7.0 1999
In the Gutter and Other Good Places

In the gutter and other good places The award winning film documentary In the gutter and other good places by Christine Richey is a multi-spectral view of three Calgary dumpster diving bottle pickers. The film traverses the ordinarily drawn stereotype of the homeless "pickers" of Calgary, and provides another compassionate standpoint on the choices and circumstances that have embodied their current predicament. Richey selects three very different street people for her story all with their unique backgrounds. Challenging assumptions about street people and their image to society, we are introduced first of all

In the Gutter and Other Good Places

8.0 1993
The Phoenix

The ancient myth of the phoenix, the legendary bird with the amazing power of self-regeneration, is reborn with a modern twist. In this animated adaptation of a story by Sylvia Townsend Warner, we follow Lord Strawberry's search for the fabled bird. He finds it in the deserts of Arabia and brings it home to his aviary. Upon Lord Stawberry's death, however, the phoenix ends up as a sideshow in a fairground. This spirited satire of human foibles, with its timely message about our treatment of nature's creatures, will appeal to young people and adults alike.

The Phoenix

6.5 1990