Alanis Obamsawin has spent years illuminating aboriginal issues through film, and her recent production screens at the From the Frontlines show at the Women’s Film Festival on Friday morning.
Gene Boy Came Home plays like a chat over coffee with Eugene "Gene Boy" Benedict, who moved to the US as a teenager. He eventually wound up as a scout / sniper in Vietnam for the better part of two years, and the focus of the story is on his experience there, its contribution to his troubles afterwards, and the inner peace he discovered when he moved back home.
There’s archive footage and photographs aplenty, all assembled with the skill of a professional documentary film-maker, but the real treat here is the charisma of Mr. Benedict. The film runs a little less than 25 min., but we could listen to him talk all day.
Born with Down’s Syndrome, Norm Llewellyn was moved to a foster home when he was 14 years old, much to the dismay of his younger sister, Karen. At the time, she promised him that she would come get him, and years later, once she got herself settled she did just that.
The 47 min. documentary, Norm, playing at the afternoon show, Family Ties, recounts their past, various moments of their present, and the uncertainty of the future. The complications that Norm encounters as he ages, continually jeopardize Karen’s promise to her brother that she’d never leave him.
A quality production in every respect, the film immerses us into their world to where we feel as though they’ve become a part of our lives. You won’t make it to lunchtime the next day without wondering how Norm’s doing right now.
For Kelly McAlear, home is a roller derby rink. Her obsession with the sport is the focus of a 4 min. short, Down and Derby which opens the early evening show, From the Nation’s Capitol.
Produced as part of an NFB training initiative, the picture features a lot of music video styled razzamatazz intended to show off the film-makers post-production skills, but Ms. McAlear is such a dynamic person, that she easily shines through the distraction. At the end, we want more, which is always a good thing.