Take a break from the sun (or rain!)
Join us every other Monday night for films and fun! The films will range from current events topics from the conflict on Sri Lanka to the toxic waste dumping that has inspired the Somali pirates to take justice into their hands, and historical topics like the Chinese head tax to gender representations in the early 20th century Quebec.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
July 6th, 7pm
Saint Columba House (Pointe St. Charles), 2365 Grand Trunk
Buried at Sea
Hundreds of thousands of tonnes of highly toxic materials lie scattered on ocean floors – in barrels that are rusting away and releasing their lethal contents. The results could make Chernobyl look like a child’s chemistry experiment gone awry.
While we worry about weapons of mass destruction in the hands of rogue states, the West’s legacy may prove far more dangerous. During the Second World War, Canada produced more chemical weapons than any other of the Allies. After the war, and during the Cold War era, massive weapons stockpiles were simply dumped into the ocean by the United States, Britain, Canada, the Soviet Union and Germany. They were considered buried and done with. Problem solved – forever. In many cases, nobody ever bothered to mark their locations. Information about known dumps was either mishandled or suppressed.
This documentary takes us on a journey to discover some of the most dangerous dumpsites. The oceans are vast and unknown; it took almost 90 years to find the wreck of the Titanic. Finding weapons lying underwater will prove infinitely harder – and far more urgent, since the health of marine species and coastal communities is at risk. Buried at Sea takes us on that search.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
July 20th, 7pm
Le Cagibi, 5490 St. Laurent (corner St. Viateur)
Br>
No More Tears Sister
A story of love, revolution, and betrayal, this film explores the price of truth in times of war. Set during the violent ethnic conflict that has enveloped Sri Lanka over decades, the documentary recreates the courageous and vibrant life of renowned human rights activist, Dr. Rajani Thiranagama. Mother, anatomy professor, and symbol of hope, Rajani was assassinated at the age of thirty-five.
Stunningly photographed, using rare archival footage, intimate correspondence and poetic recreations, the story of Rajani and her family delves into rarely explored themes – revolutionary women and their dangerous pursuit of justice.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
August 3rd, 7pm
Saint Columba House (Pointe St. Charles), 2365 Grand Trunk
Lilies
This is John Greyson’s most beautiful film, in which he makes full use of a broad, cinematic canvas and demonstrates his signature wit and sensual theatricality at full force. A stunning cast explores repressed passion and boundary crossing gender representations in a 1950’s era Quebec prison. It is a lush tale of love, betrayal and sexual panic.
A bishop comes to hear the last confession of a prisoner, only to find that it is a man he grew up with 40 years ago. The prisoner, Simon, makes the Bishop a prisoner in the confessional booth while he reminds the clergyman of a pivotal year during their boyhood, 1912. Simon seeks the truth about events that happened that summer, when the Bishop became jealous of his love affairs
Presented by Q-Team as a part of Pervercite
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
August 17th, 7pm
Le Cagibi, 5490 St. Laurent (corner St. Viateur)
In the Shadow of Gold Mountain
This film takes the filmmaker from Montreal to Vancouver to uncover stories from the last living survivors of the Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act. This dark chapter in our history, from 1885 until 1947, plunged the Chinese community in Canada into decades of debt and family separation.
At the centre of the film are personal accounts of extraordinary Chinese Canadians who survived an era that threatened to eradicate their entire community. Through a rich melding of history, poetry and raw emotion, this documentary sheds light on an era that shaped the identity of generations, with deeply moving testimonials, it reveals the profound ways this history still casts its shadow.
For more information contact: Quebec Public Interest Research Group at McGill University qpirg@ssmu.mcgill.ca Tel. 514-398-7432