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Oh Sees bring massive tour to Le National, squeaky toys and all
What better way to stave off the increasingly colder weather for a night than with not one, but two fiery experimental rock sets? Le National was treated to an evening of heat on Oct. 15th, as long-running garage punk outfit Oh Sees (formerly Thee Oh Sees) brought their colossal 2019 tour to town. A crowd made up of both newcomers and die-hard Oh Sees followers transformed into a sea of moshers and crowdsurfers amid an explosion of synths and thunderous bass – enough to test the boundaries of your favourite concert earplugs.
Opener Prettiest Eyes set the tone for the night as concertgoers filtered in. The relatively sparse crowd filled out rapidly as soon as the LA-based post-industrial group kicked off a set full of stage work from drummer and vocalist Pachy García, hair flips from keyboardist Paco Casanova, and bass acrobatics from Marcos Rodríguez. Their set was tight, fast-paced and energetic. During “Strange Distance”, García stood up above his drumkit, lit up by a spotlight on an otherwise darkened stage, and delivered the opening lines of the thrumming track with vampiric flair. “It Cost’s to Be Austere” saw Rodríguez demonstrating the versatility of the bass, first thrashing out riffs by himself, then thrusting the bass into the audience for some free-form noise and even laying it on García’s kit to be drummed on. By the time they left the stage, the crowd was loud, lively, and looking forward to the arrival of the headlining act.
Although initially hampered by persistent sound issues (during which they provided a lovely bluesy shuffle for the sound techs to scramble to), Oh Sees did not waste any time delivering their signature blend of garage punk, experimental sound, psych rock, and custom weirdness to the crowd. Opening the set with “I Come From the Mountain”, the group made a vivid sonic and visual impression. Frontman John Dwyer led the group with precision and unrelenting frenetic energy, pulling riffs out of his guitar (a clear ECG with Dungeons & Dragons-inspired knobs, no less) with the fluidity of a lifelong performer. Oh Sees has existed in some form for decades. The current iteration featuring dual drummers Dan Rincon and Paul Quattrone brings both the noise and the creative musicianship to the forefront. Bassist Tim Hellman kept the thunderous lines coming, and Tomas Dolas provided ample outer-space vibes on keys.
The crowd – seemingly entirely made up of crowdsurfers at times – was taken on a lively journey throughout Oh Sees’ extensive catalogue, with special attention paid to tracks off their latest album Face Stabber. “The Daily Heavy” gave Dwyer a chance to show off his skill vocally, on the guitar, and with the liberal use of squeaky toy that kicks off the track; “Nite Expo” switched up the groove, but lost none of the energy. Rincon and Quattrone were mesmerizing to watch, playing many segments in perfect unison at the front of the stage (and producing an incredible level of sound – having two drummers is serious fun).
It’s clear that Dwyer’s passion for experimentation and variety is still going strong, and audiences are still more than receptive to his punk-propelled brand of sonic whimsy. From the plethora of pedals and effects on display, to the aforementioned squeaky toy, to an extended solo on an aerophone, it was an exercise in toeing the line between humour and deep, pulsing darkness – aggression meets playfulness.
Oh Sees and Prettiest Eyes will continue their tour south of the border, but at the end of the night Dwyer promised that he’s bringing his show back to Montreal in 11 months. Until then, cue up Face Stabber, and get your crowdsurfing moves ready.
Renita Bangert is the host of 5 Songs With…, the talk show that’s part music history, part trivia, and part play-along mystery. Tune in each week to listen to 5 different songs and explore the unexpected ways they connect. Tuesdays at 3PM EST, on CJLO 1690AM!
Airbnb Class Action, Federal Election Campaign In Quebec, Arrests Following Take-Down Of Child Porn Website
Ahmad Moujtahed
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LOCAL
A class action was launched against Airbnb when a plaintiff alleged that Airbnb violated Quebec law by showing consumers one price, then added 13% to 17% in the form of "service fees”.
The class action was authorized in Superior Court for the purpose of reaching a settlement that would consist of a maximum credit of $45 being issued for use on the Airbnb platform to those users in Quebec who were charged fees higher than those posted on the websites.
The class action stated that users covered by the settlement would be “every person residing in Quebec, who between August 2014, and June 2019, made a booking for anywhere in the world, for a purpose other than business travel, using Airbnb’s websites and who paid a price higher than the price initially advertised by Airbnb”. A hearing will take place in Montreal on Dec. 3 to authorize the settlement.
NATIONAL
Before next week’s federal election and on day 36 of the election campaign, three federal party leaders campaigned in Quebec.
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau held a morning appearance at Montreal's botanical garden, and then made his way east to Sherbrooke while pausing in cafes and pubs along the way. N-D-P Leader Jagmeet Singh made a pilgrimage to Hudson where his late predecessor Jack Layton was raised.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer campaigned in Saint-Jérôme, Que with former Olympic champion and Conservative candidate Sylvie Fréchette.
Meanwhile, a new poll by Nanos Research found that 39.5% of Montrealers plan to vote for the Liberals in the Oct. 21 federal election. The report was made for CTV News and the Globe and Mail.
INTERNATIONAL
Following the take-down of one of the world's biggest child porn websites, more than 300 people have been arrested across 38 countries, including Canada and the US.
The site, named Welcome to Video, had thousands of hours of video footage involving child abuse. Prosecutors said the site had offered videos of sex acts involving children, infants and toddlers – and specifically asked users not to upload videos featuring adults.
About 23 children have been rescued from active abuse situations.The joint task force is continuing to trace other children seen in the videos
Festival Du Nouveau Cinema Programming Director Zoé Protat Discusses the Ins-And-Outs of Cinema Event Hosting (Audio)
For At The Movies Remi was able to chat with Festival Du Nouveau Cinema (FNC) Programming Director Zoé Protat. Many topics were discussed, including how films get selected for the festival, major thematics of this year's films, rewarding aspects about the job, and how exclusive movies from streaming-only services make their way to the festival. We would like to thank Zoé for taking the time to answer these questions and wish her and her team a successful start to this year's FNC Festival running from October 9th to October 20th.
For more information visit them online at https://nouveaucinema.ca/en.
Remi is the host of At The Movies which features everything new and noteworthy in the world of cinema. The show goes live every Tuesday at 8:00 AM.
Antoni in Montreal's Kitchen
Antoni Porowski returned home to a final sold-out night of his book tour to promote his first ever cookbook, Antoni in the Kitchen that was released last month. Known for his role as the cooking expert on the Netflix reboot of Queer Eye,Antoni is also an actor, model and self-taught chef. Born and raised in Montreal, his family and friends came out to the show to support him; making the night special not just for the audience, but for Antoni too.
The event took place at the Rialto Theatre, individuals who purchased tickets for the event received a copy of the cookbook. The doors opened at 6 p.m., but by 7:15 p.m. people were still piling with a large crowd around the bar. Once everyone found a seat in the general admission venue, a local volunteer from the Mile End Mission came out to present their charity which had partnered with Antoni and then welcomed him to the stage to a roaring crowd.
Antoni ran out and you could't help but smile,the cheerful cook was clearly as excited as us. A quick roll call showed that people from across Canada and even from across the border were at the show. Antoni introduced and greeted some of his family and friends sitting in the front section of the floor, and pledged to match the rooms total donations to the Mile End Mission by the end of the night. The stage had a cooking station on the left and two armchairs on the right, and as Antoni threw his iconic towel over his shoulder it was clear which was going to be used first.
With the help of an audience member named Darcy, Antoni whipped up one of his favourite recipes from the book, the Hi-Lo Poutine. It's a classic poutine in structure, but with a couple extra ingredients and Tater Tots, Anotoni made this dish unique. As they cooked, Antoni interviewed Darcy, discovering she is an interior design student who has never cooked anything that wasn't in a box. He showed her the ropes of dicing vegetables and making your own gravy. After they tasted their creation, he gifted her with two more copies of the book. After they finished cooking, Antoni made Darcy promise to cook for her mom more often. He explained to the crowd how cooking isn't as hard as the world makes it seem. You just gotta "Learn the rules, and then you can f*** with them!".
The second half of the night was just as entertaining. Local personality, and mother of a picky eater, Julie Snyder, sat down with Antoni for an interview. We learnt about his behind the scenes experience on Taylor Swift's “You Need To Calm Downâ€Â music video shoot, the inspiration behind the cookbook, and the highs and lows of going on this book tour. As the night approached its end, a crew member handed Julie some questions from the audience, these were much sillier in comparison. If he was stuck in a room for 24 hours, he would pick Tan, from the Fab Five, to be stuck with him. If he was gifted a Corgi he would name it Flufferoni, and the three restaurants he recommends from his past in Montreal: Stash Café, Garde Manger, and, the iconic, Joe Beef.
Antoni thanked the crowd and his family for their support as the hour came to an end. With a final wave goodbye, and to a standing ovation, Antoni left the stage. Antoni took a simple cookbook tour and turned it into a quality event, filled with laughs, witty stories and some deep moments.
Extinction Rebellion Protests, Toronto Restaurant Closes After Owners Receive Death Threats, Turkey's Military Offensive In Syria
Ahmad Moujtahed
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LOCAL
More than 100 protestors joined a climate change demonstration in downtown Montreal outside Place du Canada. Blocking traffic during the height of the afternoon rush hour, protestors refused to move to the sidewalk when told by police.This prompted the arrest of about 40 people.
The demonstration was part of a series of protests Extinction Rebellion has staged this week. Extinction Rebellion is a climate change activist group, which formed in the U.K. in October 2018. The group says achieving "climate justice" will require continued, massive political action.
Another protest linked to Extinction Rebellion happened earlier this week at the Jacques-Cartier Bridge. According to CBC, three people from the group climbed the bridge in a protest which prompted provincial police to close the structure off to traffic.
NATIONAL
A Syrian family says it is shutting down its Toronto restaurant after receiving death threats. The Al-Soufi family, owners of Soufi's restaurant located in downtown Toronto said in a statement that the magnitude of hate they are facing is overwhelming.
The messages of hate and death threats sent to the restaurant started last week, when the owners confirmed on Facebook that a member of their family had been involved in a protest at a Maxime Bernier speaking event at Mohawk College in Hamilton on September 29.
In a video that went viral, protesters at the event could be seen blocking people from entering the building and harassing an elderly couple. A since-deleted Facebook post from the Syrian restaurant expressed sincere regret about the situation that occurred.
The first to comment on the restaurant closure was Justin Trudeau, who commented “hatred and threats of violence have no place in Canada. We are always stronger together than when we're divided.”
INTERNATIONAL
Syrian and Turkish forces have begun a military offensive against the the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
At least two civilians had died after Turkish warplanes bombed parts of north-eastern Syria, according to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
The offensive was launched just days after President Donald Trump withdrew US troops from the border area. Turkey's President said the operation was to create a "safe zone" cleared of Kurdish militias.
FNC 2019: Highlighting this Year’s Gems in Film
A Hidden Life
For fans of visual storytelling, the FNC is going to be showing A Hidden Life from director Terrence Malick. As always with his work, here Malick provides a meditative and profoundly humanist journey. This specific film depicts an Austrian Farmer caught between his deepest convictions and the desire to protect his family, This is inspired by the true story of Franz Jägerstätter, who risked capital punishment in refusing to pledge allegiance to Hitler during World War II. This is a deep reflective meditation on life and faith within a love story, potentially being the richest romance tale from Malick to date. A story like this, which depicts conflict in the face of hate, is this is exactly what the world needs at this time.
Screening on October 20th, 15H00 at Cinema Imperial.
Blood Quantum
Coming off of positive reviews from TIFF 2019 At Midnight, Blood Quantum from director Jeff Barnaby hopes to provide some thrills and chills to this year’s festival. On Mi’kmaq reserve Red Crow, bizarre occurrences such as dead fish coming back to life are puzzling local residents. Soon their community is invaded by white survivors whom they must protect from the dead. Barnaby uses the zombie genre to create a twisted story line that is at times dark, while altogether having something to say about present day issues facing indigenous communities.
Screening on October 17th, 19H00 at Cineplex Odeon Quartier Salle 14 / October 20th, 20H45 at Cinéma Du Parc Salle 3.
Nail In the Coffin: The Fall And Rise of Vampiro
Being a big fan of documentaries this one was suggested to me as one not to miss. Finding common ground with both documentary watchers and wrestling fanatics, Nail in The Coffin: The Fall and Rise of Vampiro from director Michael Paszt is sure to bring in a wide target audience. The documentary follows Ian Richard Hodgkinson, otherwise known by ring alias Vampiro, a self-described punk-rock character who’s had his fair share of challenges. He shares his story in this gut-wrenching yet inspiring tale. From his time inside and outside the ring, being a bodyguard for Milli Vanilli, and his time in Montreal, perhaps his greatest challenge lies outside the ring as the documentary captures the difficulties of raising his daughter while maintaining career balance. Keep your eyes peeled for an interview within the coming weeks on CJLO’s online magazine.
Screening on October 11th, 19H10 at Cineplex Odeon Quartier Salle 10 / October 12th, 17H15 at Cinema Du Parc 3.
Take Shelter
Living in this era of environmental concerns, Take Shelter from director Jeff Nichols might be the movie that we all need to focus on right now. Curtis LaForche (Michael Shannon) is a family man that is suffering from depression and is haunted by apocalyptic visions. His wife (Amy Adams) and friends think that he needs to seek help, but he decides instead to build a bunker in his backyard. This deep dive into eco-anxiety helps to speak about the current climate concerns without indulging in climate change denial or descending into the madness of associated debates. Built on breathtaking visuals, this film is sure to spark a new round of environmental discussion which we are in dire need of. The screening will be introduced by Luc Ferrandez and followed by a discussion about eco-anxiety with Laure Waridel (eco-sociologist, co-founder of Équiterre, writer, and speaker).
Screening on October 15th, 18H00 at Cineplex Odeon Quartier Salle 17.
Marriage Story
Since I live in a non-Netflix household, I am ecstatic to get to see Marriage Story on the big screen. This exclusive Netflix film from director Noah Baumbach is based on his own divorce from Jennifer Jason Lee. While it may not be the feel good movie of the year as it examines a spiraling couple, the film finds a groove between the harsh and the bittersweet moments of a relationship. The couple in question are played by non-other than Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver, who play Nicole and Charlie in this frenzied relationship. With these two powerful lead performances already garnering praise around film festivals and sure to be talked about during award season, Marriage Story starts out with a postmortem relationship that has descended into disappointment and frustration before taking a look back at its bittersweet early moments.
Screening on October 14th, 16H30 at Cinéma Impérial / October 18th, 19h00 at Cinéma Du Musée.
Remi is the host of At The Movies which features everything new and noteworthy in the world of cinema. The show goes live every Tuesday at 8:00 AM.
Kuessipan Montreal Film Premiere
The cast and crew of Kuessipan made an appearance at the Montreal premiere screening on Tuesday, October 1st, 2019. Hundreds attended the premiere, presented by Cinéma du Musée at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
Kuessipan is the touching story of two Innu girls named Mikuan and Shaniss, respectively played by Sharon Fontaine-Ishpatao and Yamie Grégoire. Mikuan and her friend have to overcome many obstacles. Mikuan struggles with her identity and the complexity of dating a white man named Francis, played by Étienne Galloy. Viewers get a beautiful and sometimes awkward love story between two young individuals coming from two different cultures. Beyond the differences, however, they find what makes them similar.
“We realized Innu people know more about us than we know about them,” said producer Félize Frappier. “The goal was to shed light on the Innu community, show their values and deconstruct prejudice.”
Much of the Kuessipan script was realized in collaboration with the original novelist Naomi Fontaine. “She [Fontaine] lived between two worlds,” said co-writer Myriam Verreault. “She thought that what was on TV did not accurately represent what happened back home.”
Co-writer Myriam Verreault being interviewed at the premiere of Kuessipan on Oct. 1, 2019. Photo by Jean-Philippe Giroux.
Fontaine-Ishpatao confessed that she was reluctant to audition when she heard that the movie was co-written by a white woman, and initially refused to take on the role. Her strongest aversion was that she thought it would be “another Pocahontas movie”. However, Fontaine-Ishpatao and Verreault sat down and talked for over an hour about everything, from the actor’s life on the reserve to the socio-economic issues that touched her community. After getting a sense of Verreault's intent behind making the project, she felt more comfortable and decided to audition.
Aside from borrowing elements from Naomi Fontaine’s life, Kuessipan is also a collaboration with hundreds of community members. It was shot on the Innu community of Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam and uses two Innu actresses in the lead roles. Actors shared their lived experience through their roles, from Indigenous language preservation to overcoming addiction.
The story is a raw, honest and incredibly human depiction of the modern reality of First Nations in Québec. It talks about pride, liberty and the importance of community and the people who raise you.
Kuessipan was presented at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival and the Quebec City Film Festival, where it won the Grand Prize for outstanding films from Quebec. The film is set to be featured during the Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur in Belgium on Oct. 2 and 3.
The cast of Kuessipan posing for pictures at the premiere on Oct. 1, 2019. Photo by Jean-Philippe Giroux.
Jean-Philippe Giroux is the host of Hidden Gems, a show focusing on artists outside the realm of popular music in Canada. It plays every Thursday at 3:00 PM EST.
8th Case Of Measles In Montreal, Legault's Public Apology, Hurricane Lorenzo
Ahmad Moujtahed
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LOCAL
Public health authorities in Quebec have declared another case of measles in Montreal. Warnings have been issued alerting the population about possible exposure to the highly contagious virus during the period between September 20 and 25.
The health agency said that the infected person arrived on Air Canada flight 8903, from Moncton to Montreal on Sept. 20, and spent some time over the noon hour in the arrivals area at Trudeau airport. The agency has a complete list of locations on its website, where possible exposure to measles might have occurred.
For those who may have been exposed to the infectious disease, they are asked to be on the lookout for any symptoms. If there are health concerns, people are urged to call Info-Santé by dialling 811.
NATIONAL
Quebec Premier Francois Legault has apologized to First Nations and Inuit peoples for long-standing discrimination in their dealings with the province.
The apology was the first of calls to action laid out by retired Superior Court justice Jacques Viens. The report, made public earlier this week, details some of the ways in which "institutional practices, standards, laws and policies remain a source of discrimination and inequality" for First Nations and Inuit across Quebec.
The report makes 142 recommendations for improvements across several jurisdictions, including youth protection, health and social services, justice, corrections and policing.
Despite Legault’s gesture of reconciliation, the First Nations are still worried that the Government of Quebec does not understand the urgency of taking immediate action to correct the current situation, according to The Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL).
The First Nations are therefore directly inviting the Premier to work with them to put an end to the systemic discriminatory practices among all public services.
INTERNATIONAL
Authorities in The Azores are on red alert as Hurricane Lorenzo approached. School classes were cancelled and government offices were closed as people were told to remain indoors.
The category 2 hurricane powered across the Atlantic Ocean, lashing the archipelago with heavy rains, powerful winds and damaging high waves.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said swells generated by Lorenzo were being felt along the eastern coasts of the United States and Canada, in the Bahamas, and in parts of western Europe. The center warned the swells are bringing life-threatening rip currents.
From Local to Legend at POP Montreal with Masters of Soul: Mavis Staples, Clerel and Hanorah
Every now and again, a performer stops through Montreal bringing not just a prowess and artistry that impresses, but a living, embodied history. On Sunday, September 29th at the Rialto Theatre, POP Montreal offered one such show. Mavis Staples - a woman who worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King alongside her father and sisters as part of The Staples Singers, sang in President Obama’s White House and has collaborated with everyone from Bob Dylan to Hozier - graced the Montreal audience with the divine power of gospel, soul, and blues.
In a dashing instance of soul stars aligning, POP Montreal called on two of the city’s oft-hyped soulful singer-songwriters to introduce Ms. Staples. Starting around 8pm, Hanorah greeted a relaxed audience with a solo Stratocaster-accompanied performance of several songs from her latest critically acclaimed EP For the Good Guys and the Bad Guys, including ingenious renditions of “Long Road” and “Saturn Return”. Besides the obvious connections one could make to the soul sisters of yesteryear like Janis Joplin, Sass Jordan, or Merry Clayton, Hanorah subtly and graciously lets you know her music does not tread on old turf. It is rare to hear a voice with a capacity of calling on a history of incredible vocalists while also moving forward in a direction that is 100% original. Best of all, Hanorah’s songs of empowerment not only left the audience with smiles on their faces and warmth in their hearts, but set the tone for what was to come later in the evening.
Following a quick intermission, the crowd was dazzled by the soft, genuine vocal stylings of Clerel. Equally understood as Montreal’s answer to Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, and Leon Bridges, Clerel stands as a prime example of a singer who can always adequately harness the power of subtlety and grace. Without any vocal pyrotechnics, he asserts himself through genuine, heart-wrenching soul and a knack for writing catchy, relatable tunes. Accompanied by his own guitar, Clerel journeyed through intimate renditions of songs off of his EP titled Songs From Under a Guava Tree such as “Blackstone”, “Wild Things”, and “Lonely Dance”. With a debonair presence and arresting falsetto, Clerel is as much a proponent of modern soul music in general as he is a behemoth in the Montreal scene.
With everyone now teased with gracious helpings of soul music hors-d’oeuvres, Mavis Staples emerged to a roaring crowd before jumping into a raucous performance of “If You’re Ready”. Indeed, we were ready to be taken to the gates of gospel-soul heaven. The Rialto Theatre became “The Church of Mavis Staples” as the artist gave genuinely amazing life advice with claims like “it’s nice to be nice. So if you see me, you better smile”, as well as her consistent crowd interaction during various soulful sonic climaxes. The setlist itself served as a narrative for Mavis’ epic 7-decade career by calling up on extended versions of classics like “Respect Yourself” and a Funkadelic cover of “Can You Get to That”, to newer tracks like 2017’s “Build a Bridge” and “We Get By” off her latest Ben Harper-produced LP of the same name. With a set-closing cover of The Band’s “The Weight” (on which she sang in 1976’s The Last Waltz) and a nearly 10 minute encore of “I’ll Take You There”, Mavis Staples proved that if soul music is categorized by anything, it is “joy, happiness and pos-i-tive vibrations”. This is a performer who - along with her minimal three-piece band and two backing vocalists - shared the healing power of music through energy, empowerment, and soaring vocals. It was an evening that truly made you glad to be a part of this lovely human species.
While Mavis brought with her a history of culture and deep soul, the evening’s performances at the Rialto succinctly demonstrated the beautiful development of soul in Montreal. Not only does this city crave the sounds of acts like the Staples Singers, it is carving out a niche of its own through emerging artists like Clerel and Hanorah who are gradually establishing the *Montreal sound* of soul. Not only was the night’s music beautiful and satisfying, but the satisfaction of knowing that Montreal stands proud as a city of soul was equally fulfilling.
You can hear an intimate conversation with Clerel on Soul’d Out! Monday, October 7th at 8pm, only on CJLO 1690 AM.
Lou Raskin is the host of Soul’d Out!, the show that celebrates soul, R&B, and funk in all its forms with weekly playlists and interviews with emerging local artists. Tune in every Monday at 8pm EST on CJLO 1690 AM.
Q&A Interview with Sara-Claudia Ligondé
September 25th, 2019 marked the premiere of Being Black in Canada, a documentary film project that was part of the Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF). As stated on the website, the festival was created in 2005 by the Fabienne Colas Foundation and is currently the largest Canadian film festival entirely dedicated to black realities from all four corners of the world. The project featured fifteen short films centered around telling black stories from the perspective of young black Canadian filmmakers based in Montreal, Toronto, and Halifax. The documentary topics range from immigration and identity, to family and mental health. CJLO had the chance to speak with filmmaker and director Sara-Claudia Ligondé about her film “Rest is a Right” – a collaborative project with community activist and poet Shanice Nicole that focuses on the everyday life of a black girl living in Montreal and her struggle with finding rest.
Hey Sara! I read that you said, “existing can feel like a weight”. Can you explain that?
Being black in Montreal or anywhere…the world is anti-black and so we’re always going to say it’s one sort of racism, one way or another. Whether it’s Islamophobia, xenophobia…just because we’re different, right? The weight of having society being so anti-black definitely affects my life.
This can affect you in certain places it shouldn’t, right? Certain places where you should be able to find rest?
For one, yes, the places where I should find rest. However, even outside of [those] places, I should be able to complain about what white people complain about.
Recounting an experience when she asked a barista for more cream in her coffee and was made to feel as though her manner of asking was inappropriate and even offensive, Sara explains that “this dude basically called me a bitch because I wanted more cream in my coffee; something that I initially paid for.” Expressing any sort of dissatisfaction with life is a threat to white supremacy because they then have to realize that they aren’t treating you fairly. There’s no benefit for them to help you.
Did any surprises come up during filming?
I knew that Shanice [Nicole] was wise, and she ended up being wiser [in person]. She was dropping all these bombs of knowledge that only she could have. I’m so grateful that she was a part of this. My time management is not the best and it was somewhat challenging to plan this film and come into my own as a director, but this project helped me hone my skills. That’s definitely one good thing.
Do you feel as though your film speaks for the majority of black women in Montreal?
It’s very specific to the person in the film. Shanice has seen terrible subject matter that I personally might not want to subject myself to. The diversity of our lives makes this film what it is. We are really just trying to tell our own stories. At the same time, I do think black women [in general] will relate. We are doing a lot.
What impact do you want your film to have?
I want people to check on their strong friends because they might not be as strong as you think. A friend once said that she didn’t think to check in with me because I always seem to be fine, but that is not always the case. I should not have to start crying to be cared for. As Shanice said, if you think that I’m human but you’re not going to take care of my emotions, then you’re clearly not seeing me as a whole person. A real person should be able to express a range of emotions, and I’m not allowed to do that.
How has the overall experience of the festival been for you?
It’s amazing. I’m so happy, so grateful. Everyone has been so great. It’s been amazing to see a group come together for black people in the first place. The festival has been good. So so so so good!
Sara went on to express her excitement for the future, a shared sentiment between those who attended this year’s festival. The young filmmakers have dedicated time and effort towards sharing black stories; stories that are relatively unseen. As Sara and the rest of the talented filmmakers set their sights on new projects, one certainly feels hopeful for what is to come in Canadian black cinema.
Akeem Johnson is the co-host of The Kitchen, a show that blends everything from trap music to afrobeat. It plays every Wednesday at 9:00 p.m EST.
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