July 2011
114 posts
6 tags
WatchThe Quest (1958) by Stanley Jackson This short is a re-enactment of the critical year in Dr. Frederick Banting’s life when he discovered insulin for the treatment of diabetes at the University of Toronto.
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WatchQuilt (1996) by Gayle Thomas A tribute to the unique and long-established art form of patchwork quilting.
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WatchUranium (1990) by Magnus Isacsson This documentary looks at the hazards of uranium mining in Canada.
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WatchUniverse (1960) by Roman Kroitor & Colin Low A vast, awe-inspiring picture of the universe as it would appear to a voyager through space, this film was among the sources used by Stanley Kubrick in his 2001: A Space Odyssey.
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Watch23 Skidoo (1964) by Julian Biggs This short shows eerie scenes of a downtown without people.
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WatchXS Stress: Teens Take Control (2004) by Patricia Kearns In this short, three youths draw on their own experiences to provide an essential guide to staying afloat while navigating adolescence.
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Watch21-87 (1964) by Arthur Lipsett This short is an abstract succession of unrelated views of the passing crowd. It is often cited as an influence on George Lucas’s Star Wars and his conceptualization of “The Force.”
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Watch10-7 for Life (1995) by Cynthia Banks 10–7 chronicles the last two weeks of Carol Banks’s career as a cop in Parkdale, Toronto.
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Watch24 Days in Brooks (2007) by Dana Inkster This film is a portrait of immigrants and refugees working at the Lakeside Packers slaughterhouse and adapting to change through the first-ever strike at Lakeside.
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Watch30 Minutes, Mister Plummer (1963) by Anne Claire Poirier This documentary profiles Canadian actor Christopher Plummer of the Shakespearean Theater.
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WatchUnwanted Soldiers (1999) by Jari Osborne This documentary tells the personal story of filmmaker Jari Osborne’s father, a Chinese-Canadian veteran.
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WatchUncle Bob’s Hospital Visit (2008) by JoDee Samuelson When unexpected illness lands Uncle Bob in the hospital, he’s transported from his safe and familiar surroundings to a foreign and chaotic new world.
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WatchUnexpected (2008) by Katerina Cizek This short is a provocative and transformative dialogue between homeless mothers and healthcare professionals who deliver babies.
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WatchThe Underground Movie (1972) by Les Drew Everyone has wondered what it would be like to dig right through to the other side of the Earth. This animated short takes that notion one step further.
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WatchUncommon Hero (2011) by John L’Ecuyer This short pays tribute to Paul Thompson, a man who has created a uniquely Canadian theatrical tradition.
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WatchUnder the Weather (1997) by Tali This animated short depicts a group of happy vacationers sunbathing… under cloudy skies.
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WatchBlackwood (1976) by Tony Ianzelo & Andy Thomson This short film studies the works of one of Canada’s greatest contemporary etchers - Newfoundland-born David Blackwood.
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WatchBetween the Laughter (2006) by Barbara K. Lee This documentary looks at Stephen O’Keefe, a deaf, stand-up comedian.
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WatchBeing Caribou (2004) by Leanne Allison & Diana Wilson In this documentary, Karsten Heuer and Leanne Allison follow a herd of 120,000 caribou on foot across 1500 km of Arctic tundra.
9 tags
WatchBehind the Swastika: Nazi Atrocities (1945) by NFB This documentary reveals the atrocities that occurred in German concentration camps during World War II.
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WatchBalablok (1972) by Bretislav Pojar This animated short explores the human phenomenon of resorting to violence over reason.
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WatchBlack Soul (2000) by Martine Chartrand This animated short dives into the heart of Black culture with an exhilarating trip though history.
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WatchBanshees Over Canada (1943) by James Beveridge This documentary made during WWII was used to illustrate Britain’s preparations for an air attack.
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WatchThe Barrens Quest (1997) by Peter Blow This documentary examines the destruction of the tundra barrens of northern Canada for mineral mining.
8 tags
WatchBack to Jobs (1945) by Nicholas Balla This documentary depicts the return of injured Canadian WWII veterans who require special treatment or courses before taking on jobs.
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WatchThe Ballad of Crowfoot (1968) by Willie Dunn This short examines the situation of Aboriginal people in North America through the figure of Crowfoot, the legendary 19th-century Blackfoot leader.
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WatchBlake (1969) by Bill Mason This short focuses on Blake James as he pilots his own plane.
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WatchThe Burning Times (1990) by Donna Read This documentary takes an in-depth look at the witch hunts that swept Europe.
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WatchBethune (1964) by Donald Brittain This documentary is a biography of Dr. Norman Bethune, the Canadian doctor who served during the Spanish Civil War and the Sino-Japanese War.
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WatchBattle of Arras 3 (1917) by NFB This short on the Battle of Arras shows artillery fire, troop movements and several explosions on the battlefield.
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WatchThe Bronswik Affair (1978) by Robert Awad & André Leduc This short demonstrates the effectiveness of advertising and the marketing machine.
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WatchBaby Blues (1990) by Annie O’Donoghue This short is intended to be a conversation starter on the topic of sex, responsibility and contraception.
7 tags
WatchBetween: Living in the Hyphen (2005) by Anne Marie Nakagawa This documentary examines what it means to have a background of mixed ancestries that cannot be easily categorized.
7 tags
WatchBecoming 13 (2006) by Victoria King This smart documentary explores the intimidating terrain of girlhood by following three 12-year-olds over the period of one year.
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WatchBate’s Car: Sweet as a Nut (1974) by Tony Ianzelo This short presents Mr. Bate, an inventor who discovers a substitute for gasoline in barnyard manure.
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WatchBeaver Family (1929) by NFB A short portraying Grey Owl, the famous conservationist, and a family of beavers.
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WatchBeaver People (1928) by NFB A shortabout famous conservationist Grey Owl (born Archibald Belaney) and his wife, Angele Egwuna, who had a special talent for interacting with beavers.
8 tags
WatchBravery in the Field (1979) by Giles Walker This film introduces us to Tommy, a World War II veteran who rooms alone, passing the time in the evenings with his cronies in the Legion Hall.
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WatchThe Back-breaking Leaf (1959) by Terence Macartney-Filgate Here is a graphic picture of the tobacco harvest in southwestern Ontario.
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WatchBronwen & Yaffa (Moving Towards Tolerance) (1996) by Peter d’Entremont This documentary features two women who are organizing rock concerts to raise money for the group Eastcoast Against Racism.
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WatchThe Brainwashers (2002) by Patrick Bouchard In this animated short, two chimney sweepers clear all the memories from their victim’s brain in a quest to determine what goes on in a man’s head.
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WatchBaghdad Twist (2007) by Joe Balass Baghdad Twist is a short film that pulls back the curtain on Iraq’s once thriving Jewish community.
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WatchThe Big Snit (1985) by Richard Condie This animated film perfectly captures the intersection of a domestic quarrel and a global nuclear war.
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WatchBoogie-Doodle (1941) by Norman McLaren Made without the use of a camera, Boogie-Doodle is a rhythmic, brightly coloured film experiment.
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WatchBlackfly (1991) by Christopher Hinton This animated film about a pesky blackfly is based on the song by Wade Hemsworth, with back-up vocals by the McGarrigle sisters.
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WatchThe Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar (1968) by Peter Pearson Thia film focuses on a man who chooses the unfettered life and uncertain income even though it means that his family lives poorly.
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WatchBlossom (2010) by Julia Kwan Julia Kwan’s short film captures the experience of a young woman as she travels to a new country.
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WatchBlue Suns (2010) by Chloe Leriche A walk in the woods become a metaphoric journey in Chloé Leriche’s short film.
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WatchBeirut! Not Enough Death to Go Round (1983) by Tahani Rached A moving and graphic portrait of the people of wartorn Beirut in their struggle to survive in the rubble and despair after the 1982 massacres at Sabra and Chatila.
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WatchBlack Mother Black Daughter (1989) by Sylvia Hamilton & Claire Prieto This doc explores the lives and experiences of black women in Nova Scotia, their contributions to the home, the church and the community and the strengths they pass on to their daughters.
