Lost in the Shuffle

In the hands of a skilled magician, a simple, everyday deck of cards transforms into a vessel of wonder and (im)possibility, so it’s little surprise that for almost as long as there have been cards, there have been card tricks.

Seen through the eyes of some of the world’s best sleight-of-hand artists, Lost in the Shuffle is a multi-faceted look at this remarkable 400-year relationship that’s seen these simple playthings provide an endless source of miraculous inspiration for magicians throughout time

Review:

A sleeper hit with a whole lot of heart! Lost in the Shuffle will provide you with a wonderful snapshot of the history a deck of cards, the symbolism behind the art work, and card play as currency. A fun game one would play as kids – is worth a revisit as an adult with friends and family. The beauty of the card paper that you hold in your hands reveals a deep history worth reflecting on in meditative moments.

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Red Fever

Red Feveris a witty and entertaining feature documentary about the profound — yet hidden — Indigenous influence on Western culture and identity.

The film follows Cree co-director Neil Diamond as he asks, “Why do they love us so much?” and sets out on a journey to find out why the world is so fascinated with the stereotypical imagery of Native people that is all over pop culture.

Why have Indigenous cultures been revered, romanticized, and appropriated for so long, and to this day? Red Fever uncovers the surprising truths behind the imagery — so buried in history that even most Native people don’t know about them.

Review:

One of the best kept secrets of Hot Docs 2024. A beautiful portrait of Neil Diamond a Cree Indian from Quebec. Neil takes us on a journey into cultural appropriation that is woven into American politics, sport and fashion. A touch point worth considering is that American politics, sport and fashion is very much connected to Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. A highlight is being taken to Igloolik to first hand where the first parka was made! The breath Indigenous storytelling embedded within the documentary makes this film a must see!

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Not far from France’s famed bullfighting arenas are stadiums along the Mediterranean coast where young men are pitted against fierce bulls in the traditional sport of the Camargue race. Rather than harm the beasts, these men elude being trampled through sheer athleticism while attempting to grab a ribbon from between the bulls’ horns before another competitor does. It’s not a sport for the faint of heart, and young North African immigrants risk everything to take their place in the ring and gain a foothold in French society. The stakes are very real for Jawad, who must overcome a serious injury to compete again, and for Belka, who is following in his father’s footsteps and seeking his own path to glory. Director Jérémie Battaglia immerses us in the rituals and routines of this little-known tradition that is both poetic and heart-stopping, drawing subtle parallels between the challenges of fighting for survival in the ring and overcoming racism outside it.

Review:

“The first time a bull enters the ring, you test it, to see if it’s a crazy one. It’s like when we are young. We are crazy and so is the bull.”

The discipline of a raseteur is that of a ballet dancer in the bull ring. Indeed a beautiful sport, but for the subjects the viewer observes them alluding vicious bulls with only steps before their bodies hit the boards. Think of a Swan Lake with the same amount of drive, artistry and love for the art. The film is like a poem where the brushstrokes demonstrate the journey of subjects Jawad and Belka. “He creates danger, strikes fear into the hearts of the raseteurs.” A French Youth illustrates how the subject’s holds space as North Africans in French culture while strengthening their ancestral line, sense of family, and the infusion of cultural humility inside and outside the Camargue bull fighting ring.

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The National Film Board brings only the best gems to Hot Docs 2024. Make time to watch each of their offerings over the festival season. Must see’s include: 7 Beats Per Minute, A Mother Apart, AM I THE SKINNIEST PERSON YOU’VE EVER SEEN?, and Seguridad.

AM I THE SKINNIEST PERSON YOU’VE EVER SEEN?

WARNING: This film contains imagery of anorexia and eating disorders that may be disturbing to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised. “Hey, let’s go on a diet together.” As kids in a small Quebec town, Eisha and Seema were more than sisters, they were soul mates, and a joint diet offered a shared sense of purpose. But their carefree project would take a dark turn, pushing Eisha to the very brink of death. Consumed by anorexia, she found herself battling her own fragile body—stranded between childhood and adulthood. Decades later, she revisits her past in an exquisitely crafted work of auto-ethnography, evoking her unusual youth with aching lyricism. In addressing a tender love letter to the troubled girl she once was, she reaches contemporary audiences with a timely reflection on body image and self-acceptance.

Review:

“Yes I am too skinny, but what does it matter?”

Weaving in threads of Alice in Wonderland and the theme of holding onto one’s youthful body is a common theme with our youth. In Eisha’s case, the viewer witnesses her experiencing the tug of war between Indian culture and the assimilation into Canadian culture as one knotted thread of many. AM I THE SKINNIEST PERSON YOU’VE EVER SEEN? illustrates a narrative often missed in the media representation of youth with eating disorders discourse – that is a youth of colour’s relationship with an eating disorder and how it affects their life and lives of their loved ones. The portraiture that is framed within the film paints moments of time in a childhood filled with new beginnings, photographic smiles which eventually disappear, maintaining one’s ancestral roots while also embracing Jordache jeans, fashion magazines, and nods to Canadiana in the 80’s. The viewer breathes in Eisha’s parents issues with homesickness, adjustment into Canadian culture and racism at the hands of institutional systems which she absorbed as a growing teen. The residue of these issues impacted young Eisha, only to support a friendship with an eating disorder to bloom. A beautifully crafted film which speaks to advocacy for one’s self, overcoming adversity, and the importance of family when coping with mental issues as a youth.

Check out!:

7 Beats Per Minute

During a world-record attempt, free diving champion Jessea Lu blacked out and was lifeless for four minutes. Director Yuqi Kang’s documentary captures the descent of a lifetime, when Jesse returns to the site of her near-death experience to face the traumas of her past and find a way back to connection.

A Mother Apart

An emotionally sweeping tale of healing and forgiveness, A Mother Apart accompanies powerhouse Jamaican-American poet and LGBTQ+ activist Staceyann Chin as she re-imagines the essential art of mothering—having been abandoned by her own mother.

Seguridad

In Seguridad, Cuba’s “youngest soldier” uncovers a family secret that compels her to explore her father’s troubled past and its connection to the Cuban Revolution.

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An eye-opening he said/she said perspective on timbó fishing, a traditional practice of the Indigenous Yanomami people that involves the entire community and a vine used to stun fish, seamlessly blends preservation documentary, origin myth, magic realism and the reality of mining and economic threats to Yanomami culture in this formally inventive reclamation.

Review:

“Now days we are very worried, since our land has been invaded by white people who spoil our forest. The invasion of illegal mining destroys our forest; it brings disease, violence and death to our people. We, the Yanomami people, want to live healthfully in a good forest.”

This film albeit 10 minutes in length provides a beautiful but painful reminder of colonialism, capitalism, and the disrupting of traditional and ancestral lands for profit. The viewer is taken into the deep forest of Brazil where the traditional life of Indigenous Yanomami people is observed from a lens of respect and reverence. A beautiful gem of a documentary filled with activism, love, and respect for those individuals and their ancestors who yearn to maintain a way of life that is steeped in spirituality, love for the land, and one another.

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“Marching in the Dark is a poignant film set against the backdrop of farmer suicides in India. The story revolves around Sanjivani, a young widow who discovers strength, joy and companionship among a group of resilient women who have experienced the same loss of a partner. Through peer-to-peer sessions with a local psychologist, Sanjivani finds the courage to confront her grief, challenge social taboos, and strive for financial independence and a brighter future for her children. As she navigates deeply patriarchal Indian society, the film explores themes of resilience, healing and the power of community. Despite facing new tragedies within her community, Sanjivani’s determination does not waver as she finds solace in helping other women farmers and addressing her own grief. Marching in the Dark offers a compelling portrayal of personal growth, empowerment and the strength found in collective support.” – Hot Docs Winner Special Jury Mention, CPH:DOX – Human:Rights Award

Review:

“If we stand strong, our children will stand strong”.

One of the most beautifully filmed documentaries you will see during Hot Docs 2024. The humanity the viewer see’s in the eyes of the families left behind by suicide is similar to that of Western families. The ache is palatable. Yet – there is something more there. A quiet resiliency, where grief must take a back seat to survival.

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Two gritty teams of hobbyist explorers are on the cusp of discovering new territory. Katie Graham is an accountant by day who is obsessed with the Bisaro Anima cave in the Rocky Mountains, and she is willing to risk it all to achieve a caving depth record that depends on a successful scuba dive. Further west on Vancouver Island is Franck Tuot, who sacrifices weekends away from his young family with the goal of linking two tunnel systems that will mark the longest-known cave in Canada.

Review:

“It’s a sport you don’t have to be an astronaut or special person to discover new places. Anyone can do it, its way more accessible then going to the moon.”

This film is certainly not for the faint of heart. It will take you into dark places you may never have been or may never see in your lifetime. Our present world is incredibly mapped with modalities such as Google maps. The viewer can get anywhere from space to the deepest oceans. The last frontier to discover is caves with all of its mysteries and beauty. The ARGO systems of caves are remarkable. The film takes the viewer on a private tour touching upon the depth, length, fingers and tendrils of the cave system in Canada. The viewer witnesses the movement of bodies into tiny spaces, the carving away of soil by hand, climbers pushing their bodies through sediment while also slipping and sliding underfoot. The electronic music and meatball subway sandwiches are wonderful touch points to encourage the viewer to stay inspired and motivated to discover Canada’s longest caves and even just on one’s life journey.

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Malena had her tubes tied after an abusive relationship and fled to Mexico City seeking a better life, but her ex-husband took custody of her children despite her fierce fight. Today she has a new partner and is finishing the house where she dreams of living with her three teenage children and a new baby. She needs IVF treatment if she is to have a second chance now that she’s older and wiser. Malena decides to quit her job as a domestic worker and return home to set up a business and have the family she always dreamt of. Feeling abandoned, her children punish her while her partner threatens to leave if the IVF fails. Can she pull everyone together and make her dreams come true?

Review:

“I just want to be myself. To recover from the times when I had to make myself small! It’s never too late.”

This film is what excellent documentary is all about. The viewer breathes in the human condition in all its glory and in this case the subject of Malena. Mexican Dream delves deep into Malena’s struggles and illustrates to the viewer the textures and rips within her fragile and combusting relationships. Love, loss, grief, and forgiveness co-exist within Malena’s day to day struggles. Mexican Dream weaves National Geographic film portraits in time which capture the true essence of Malena’s determination for re-writing the wrongs from her past. The isolation from her children is raw, her partner’s disgust in her is visceral – this film is not for the faint of heart. The love that Malena holds for her children and partner is tender, and meaningful. Mexican Dream will encourage you to re-evaluate those relationships you maybe willfully neglecting.

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Fire Tower is a character-driven documentary with dramatic landscapes, intense conditions and far-out stories – akin to astronauts and lighthouse keepers. Perched in the Rocky Mountains and above empty expanses across the Yukon, we meet the people behind the binoculars. They all experience the rush of spotting smokes and pre-empting evacuations. They all take pride in protecting the land and its people. They have all been struck by lightning.

Tower lookouts remind us that climate change and technology are encroaching on all our lives and livelihoods. For more than a century, they have been the dedicated “eyes in the sky”, a critical first-line of defence. Today, despite the unprecedented number of wildfires, there are only three provinces that continue to employ human radar. How can they compete with fleets of drones, satellites and cell phones?

The best way to stop a fire is to spot it early. Lookouts are still critical anchors in our fire safety networks. When lightning strikes, they can flag a wisp of smoke 60 miles away and interpret its intensity in shades of grey, ahead of infrared imagery. Within minutes, they can radio other responders to mobilize their planes, helicopters and equipment before forests become matchsticks that devastate communities.

Beyond the action, gazing out from their towers also grants the lookouts telling moments of introspection. In our hyper-connected, multi-tasking world, Fire Tower invites us to contemplate how solitude can inspire a different kind of connection with nature, community and our own creativity. 

Review:

“Fire can be your best friend or it can be your worst enemy.”

Steeped within an Indigenous lens of caring for the land, Fire Tower illustrates those tasked with being guardians of First Nations land from the Alberta wildfires. The viewer glances into the lives of individuals situated on top of a fire tower deep within green, lush forests. The viewer also listens to what drew these individuals to a job that immerses their lives for 6 months out of the year. It is hardly a profession for the faint of heart. The job draws likeminded individuals with a love of solitude and a strong desire to heal. There is heart break, love, and most importantly a deep dedication to the offering of selfless care in every story. Be prepared to breathe in swooping views of the Alberta forest landscape and sweet visits from wildlife that accent the life space. The portraiture of the wildfires is haunting while glorious. Images could easily be illustrated in National Geographic magazine. One can see glimpses of God’s work quietly touching the ashes. Best of Hot Docs 2024.

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When 86-year-old Rene buys flowers, he always thinks about what color his wife would have chosen if she were alive. Like most people in this film, he spent more time with this partner than without.
Through candid, revealing interviews, ECHO OF YOU presents a group of Danish men and women, all aged 80+. With poignant openness and honesty, they share their thoughts on their life partnerships; lost loves who, one way or another, are no longer with them. They discuss the heartbreak of losing a life partner, and the ways in which life goes on. Filmmaker Zara Zerny, tenderly brings their individual voices together like a choir, interweaving them with abstract, dreamy images, music and artistic interpretations of their inner lives. Together, they form a collection of diverse perspectives on love, life, loneliness and death, merging into a unique body of testimony. A sensuous, life-affirming portrait of a generation slowly saying goodbye.

 Review:

“We both had affairs. But they didn’t mean anything.”

A beautiful to ode to that moment in life where we begin to bear witness to the loss of parents, partners, lovers, and those of most significance in our lives. Quirky moments of reflection are offered to take the edge of the heaviness of the content. Each subject offers a unique window into their loss. We sit alongside them to breathe in what it means to be left behind after a lifetime of love, forgiveness, care, adoration, and support for another.

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Amber is one of the many agents working for the Bhutanese government to measure people’s happiness levels among the remote Himalayan mountains. But will he find his own along the way?

AGENT OF HAPPINESS offers a unique take on the notoriously exoticized Bhutan and its unusual happiness policy. We follow Amber as he investigates various expressions of contentment across different households and lifestyles while navigating his own struggle as a Nepali minority. The holistic philosophy at the heart of the survey he conducts challenges the conventional metrics of fulfillment and success, often provoking some deeper soul-searching. The filmmakers elegantly capture many tender moments between Amber and his interlocutors, as well as some very revealing conversations filled with unflinching honesty and quiet wisdom.

Through its carefully crafted narrative, the film resonates as a heartfelt exploration of happiness in the face of adversity. As Amber grapples with societal disparities and personal roadblocks while searching for love, this story becomes a beautifully realized reminder to count our blessings.

Review:

“Gross National Happiness is when governance and well-being go hand in hand….”

This is film will truly humble you. “Our culture is our key to our happiness,” is offered as a reflection point within the film. If our government asked our citizens how we were sleeping, if we had a tractor, a power tiller, a mobile phone, a fixed telephone line, a laptop, a camera and if we were happy, it maybe worth considering if we would be a more grounded society. Would we feel heard? Cared for? Understood? Feel a sense of belonging? The line of questions executed by Amber and his colleague are simple but yet hold so much power. The individuals they pose survey questions to deliver responses filled with depth and promise. The delicate individual portraiture curated at the end of Amber’s surveys is the true gold embedded within the film. The film has a Wes Anderson feel to its essence – it is such a lovely surprise. The sheer wholesomeness of Amber and his cohort, the individuals they meet on their surveying journey, the line of GNH questions and the sweeping views of Bhutan is a perfect respite from the heavier documentaries during the festival.

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