Unarmed Verses
| Unarmed Verses | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Charles Officer |
| Written by | Charles Officer |
| Produced by | Lea Marin |
| Cinematography | Mike McLaughlin |
| Edited by | Andres Landau |
| Music by | Menalon |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Unarmed Verses is a 2017 Canadian documentary film, directed by Charles Officer.[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]
Synopsis[edit]
The documentary follows a year in the 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 against the backdrop of community gentrification and apparent lack of concern for her and her neighbourhood.
Awards[edit]
In December 2017, the Toronto International Film Festival named the film to its annual Canada's Top Ten 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]
At the 5th Canadian Screen Awards, Unarmed Verses received two Canadian Screen Award nominations for Best Feature Length Documentary, and for Best Cinematography in a Documentary (Mike McLaughlin).[6]
References[edit]
- ^ "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.
- ^ Pat Mullen, "Canadian Screen Awards Preview: Picks and Foolish Predictions". Cinemablographer, March 11, 2018.
External links[edit]
- Unarmed Verses at IMDb
- Watch Unarmed Verses on the NFB website
- Unarmed Verses on TIFF
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- 2017 films
- 2017 documentary films
- Canadian documentary films
- Films directed by Charles Officer
- National Film Board of Canada documentaries
- Documentary films about Toronto
- Films shot in Toronto
- Documentary films about Black Canadians
- 2010s English-language films
- 2010s Canadian films
- 2010s Canadian film stubs
- 2010s documentary film stubs
- Canadian documentary film stubs