Toronto 2025 Hot Docs: Citizen Minutes: “La Femme Equi-Libre”: Horsing Around with Mental Health

The short documentary “La Femme Equi-Libre” focuses on the Elm Grove Centre in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island run by Josée Gallant Gordon a graduate social worker.

Gordon offers equine therapy to mental health patients and in lieu of tranquilizing patients with enough tranquilizers to kill a horse the horse and therapist play centre stage where medication and standard therapy has proven ineffective which two veteran participants suffering from PTSD attest to stating the horses relax you, always have your back, make you see things differently and permits a focus for what works for you instead of having that defined by a therapist. Equine exposure works wonders in ways the documentary only grazes on.

One client explains in an office setting with a therapist you are in a constrained space forced to interact with your therapist but with a horse one can divert your attention and ruminate with the horse as a buffer between yourself and the therapist. Equine therapy is used for some United States veterans so it is not a novel concept but it is encouraging it is a therapeutic strategy also used in Canada.

Directed by Hélène Lebon and is part of the Hot Docs Citizen minutes screening on 30April2025.

RKS CANADIAN Documentary Rating 66/100.

Toronto 2025 Hot Docs: Citizen Minutes: “Becoming Ruby”: In the Footsteps of the Pansy Craze?

Alex Nguyen, a Vietnamese Winnipegger, struggled with his queerness at an early age. His progression into drag queen Ruby Chopstix was fraught with self doubt.

Alex became the first resident drag artist of Winnipeg’s The Rainbow Resource Centre’s “Drag Artist in Residence” supporting drag artists to uplift “a beautiful form of queerness and culture” through a $2,000 stipend to fund living costs, investments in Alex’s art and to create a project to promote drag. In short it promotes the transition of Alex Nguyen into drag performer Ruby Chopstix.

His showcase performance includes his mother and backup dancers.

As for drag you can take it or leave it but whatever “side” you are on Ruby’s determination to advance drag as an inspiration to people to be themselves is notable and Drag Artist in Residence innovative.

The documentary might have warranted further discussion on the hostility displayed by some to drag performances and how Drag Artist in Residence was founded and financially supported.

There was brief Pansy Craze in New York, London, Paris, Berlin and San Francisco in the late twenties and early thirties weakened in part by the Roman Catholic church attacking it. Who is currently attacking drag art and their rationale for doing so would have added a little more depth to this documentary.

Directed by Quan Luong and part of Hot Docs Citizen Minutes screening on 30April2025.

RKS CANADIAN Documentary Rating 71/100.

Toronto 2025 Hot Docs: Citizen Minutes: “Crossing the Great Divide” in the United States: Braver Angels

Watching American news in the past few years and speaking with Americans, most recently in California, one senses a polarized nation where a 6Jan21 riot was illustrative of a greater shade of polarization namely extremism. Rioters seen by some as “patriots” and by others as criminal insurrectionists. As to politics and related points of view the United States seems acrimoniously split into two warring sides.

Two Canadian women AS and KM have widely diverging viewpoints on almost all issues. They travel to Wisconsin for an annual convention of Braver Angels realizing society and democracy may be splitting into destructive irreconcilability.

Braver Angels does not seek to change or erase points of view or to obtain agreements as to what is right but like marriage therapists tries to connect bickering couples by determining what each side thinks so they can reconnect with other and move forward.

The result is AS and KM are now good friends and trying to expand the presence of Braver Angels into Canada.

Perhaps it amounts to that old saying agree to disagree.

Chrisann Hessing and Ashley Brooke are the directors of the short documentary “Crossing the Divide” which is part of Hot Docs Citizen Minutes Programme screening on 30April2025.

RKS CANADIAN Documentary Rating 77/100.

Toronto 2025 Hot Docs: Citizen Minutes: “Red Girl Rising”

Joyce Jonathan Crone a Haudenosaunee, Mohawk, Turtle Clan from the Huntsville area in Ontario is, amongst many things, an activist, columnist, radio show host, writer and member of the Indigenous Advisory Council of the Ontario Provincial Police. She is founder of the Hope Arises Project which is committed to promoting a connection to Indigenous culture for those expressing loss or interruption of cultural identity. Hope Arises Project seeks to address cultural misconceptions and barriers and envisions a community fostering cultural parity, diversity and acceptance.

“Red Girl Rising” affords Crone an opportunity to tell viewers her story. The short documentary is one of the seven in the Citizen Minutes Programme.

Her father attended a residential school in Ontario and was severely traumatized by the experience as is Crone. Residential school trauma is intergenerational a message which is very much a message of the documentary.

Given the genocidal intent of residential schools all Canadians surely must understand the anger of Indigenous people in Canada. Crone was the victim of racist bullying based on her skin colour. Crone recognizes the necessity of understanding and educating about past abuses but cautions a sole focus on the past amounts to stuck wheels and one avoidance strategy of the spinning wheels is community involvement with Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. To potential allies she states to be an ally you must stand close enough to feel the rocks being thrown.

A short but powerful and telling recounting of a woman seeking to change the future by education, community involvement and reconciliation despite her own trauma and her anger so evident in a final drum beating scene.

Directed by Kim Stadfeld and Faith Howe.

The Citizen Minutes Programme screens 30April2025.

RKS CANADIAN Documentary Rating 81/100.

Toronto 2025 Hot Docs: “MAMA”: An Artistic and Creative Approach Chronicling the Nastiness of a Breast Cancer Experience

Ecuadorian Ana Cristina Benitez has crafted a creative if not poetic and hypnotic documentary about her battle with breast cancer.

A late diagnosis of stage three breast cancer sets in motion an exhausting and debilitating round of chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed by a mastectomy. We are a fly on the wall spectators watching her receive chemo treatment with many others in what resembles a chemotherapy factory at her hospital while the background radio details the latest Ecuadorian COVID fatalities. A patient at chemo is distraught as her husband left her for another woman after her hair fell out. The patients quip a woman will stay with her man right through to the end of chemo while a man will leave his woman after her hair falls out which we see plenty of on the floor. Ana’s partner Mateo is illustrative of the deserting man.

After chemo 32 sessions of radiotherapy and then a mastectomy where the reflective and calm Benitez shatters into sobs of utter defeat.

Benitez’s calm and poetic narration is interspersed with visually stunning cinematography of the sea and water rendering an almost pleasant dreamlike quality to her personal nightmare. These visual interludes, somewhat similar to the Chilean 2022 documentary “Corrupto” by Juan Cifuentes Mera, provide the viewer an opportunity to reflect and recover from the emotional waves and harsh medical images fired out by her technical and emotional descriptions. What is puzzling and distracting is older video footage of her childhood which as far as I can interpret serves little purpose.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the documentary are Benitez’s innermost thoughts about the entire process one such thought being she is everything but nothing and it is in the moments of darkness when the light shines most intensely.

You may watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kx8OW1lrLU

The world premiere of MAMA is on 27/29 April.

RKS 2025 Documentary Rating 82/100.

Toronto 2025 Hot Docs: “The Track”: The Impossible Possibility

Sarajevo, the Bosnian-Herzegovina host city of the 1984 Winter Olympics, was under attack during the 1992-95 war. Street fighting, shelling and snipers made the city a dangerous place. While “peace” was attained Catholic, Bosnian and Serbian killings continue at a far lesser scale and the haunting memories of the war left no true peace.

The documentary is one of those against all odds genre sports film. Three young men and Senad an experienced luge coach train on an Olympic era dilapidated luge track, at least when curious tourists and cyclist aren’t walking or cycling on it. The 875,000 Euros required to rebuild the track are not forthcoming nor is there any serious state or private financial support for the young athletes. Senad maintains the crumbling edifice the best he can at his own expense.

An aura of gloom, bad memories and hopelessness hang heavy in the city air. Youth unemployment is high and governmental corruption is rampant. The young men and Senad struggle on with a purpose of competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Had it not been for this seemingly impossible goal one wonders what would have become of these young athletes.

With familial monetary sacrifice the three men attend junior championships and Olympic qualifying events with one of young men Mirza Nikolajev competing in Beijing not winning any medal but causing Sarajevan’s to smile for once. Given the lack of proper training facilities, funding and top line equipment Mirza’s Olympic appearance impossible to achieve becomes a possibility.

This Bosnian “Cool Running” story is and pardon that oft used term “heart warming”.

This Canadian documentary is co- written and directed by Ryan Sidhoo and will be having its Canadian premiere on 27/30April, 2025 at Hot Docs.

RKS 2025 Canadian Documentary Rating 88/100.

RKS 2025 Wine: Portuguese Wine at a Give Away Price: Guarda Rios

There aren’t many notable wines at $11.95 CDN these days in Canada although in Portugal at Pingo Doce or Jumbo hypermarchés there are many at that price.

We try a Portuguese red Guarda Rios from the Alentejano region that is slowly crowding off Douro wines from the shelves in Ontario, based on price to value considerations. A blend of Syrah, Touriga Nacional and Aragonez.

Aroma: A healthy infusion of blackberry rules the roost. Secondary notes of blueberry and black cherry. Some hints of creaminess.

Palate: Moderate broad-based tannins. Firm. Tight. Spicy. A tad peppery on the finish. More about structure than fruit expressive.

Personality: If you visit Portugal, you may find us particularly formal in an old-world way. It is politeness not aloofness. Get to know us, don’t wear Bermuda shorts and a MAGA hat and we are terribly friendly and generous. I would describe myself as an old-world wine where fruit is polite and discrete and not gushing with fruit all over the place like several countries/regions, due to my politeness, I will not enumerate.

Music Match: Smokey Robinson (latest album “What the World Needs Now”).

Cellarbility: By the book I would say drink by 2026-year end but at this price experiment. Try one in 2027, and 2008 and see what you get. Wine can be a total bore if you always play by the book.

Price: $11.95 CDN.

RKS 2025 Wine Rating: 89/100. Jamessuckling.com 90.

(Guarda Rios Tinto 2022, VR Alentejano, Monte da Ravasqueria, Arraiolos, Portugal, 750 mL, 13.5%).

Toronto 2025 Hot Docs: “Walls – Akinni Inuk”

Having watched documentaries “Twice Colonized” (2023) and “Angry Inuk” (2016) I was expecting the Greenlandic Danish documentary “Walls – Akinni Inuk” to be infused with anger about the mistreatment of Greenlandic Inuk within the Greenlandic prison system.

I saw no anger but frustration with the judicial system incarcerating Ruth in Greenlandic custodial detention for 12 ½ years courtesy of an indefinite custodial sentence. As a Canadian lawyer far removed from the practice of criminal law, criminal sentences in Canada are usually for a fixed term unless a serious criminal offence results in an NCR court decision i.e. not criminally responsible where the accused is sentenced to an indefinite custodial sentence at “His Majesty’s Pleasure”.

Ruth murdered the man who sexually abused her then killed another man she believed had murdered her mother.

Greenland is not independent being under ultimate control of Denmark although it has a degree of self government. Greenland is responsible for the administration of justice and maintains its own criminal law and prison and probation services.  

Filmmaker Nina Paninnguaq Skysdsbjerg sets out to make a documentary about the Greenlandic detention system and in the early stage of filming encounters Ruth and feels a connection and the documentary becomes a focus on Ruth.

As Ruth and Nina converse over a period of time they discover both have suffered from sexual abuse, had alcoholic mothers and have suffered unhappy childhoods. Nina confesses enraged like Ruth was she wished to kill her abuser but changed her mind at the last moment.

Nina and Ruth are deeply wounded souls and their pain and torments emerge through their conversations but the extraction of the bad leads to healing and a deep friendship. The healing is a slow process taking a toll on a clearly emotional Nina who looks haggard and exhausted reliving and explaining her past to Ruth.

Far on in their relationship Nina becomes pregnant and in a poignant scene in the documentary Ruth, a mother herself, feels Nina’s stomach and the movement of the fetus and a look of joy accompanied by sparkling eyes and smiles completely transforms Ruth and may be the most powerful moment in the documentary.

A testament to compassion, friendship and the absolute necessity for second chances when they are completely warranted. Nina stands by not an angry Inuk but a largely forgotten and ignored Inuk and in the process shackles of trauma and imprisonment are broken.

There are physical walls between Nina and Ruth but through time together those walls crumble.

Directed by Sofie Rórdam and Nina Paninnguaq Skysdsbjerg.

Screening 26/28April.

RKS Documentary Film Rating 78/100.

RKS 2025 Film: “Treadmill”: The Never-Ending Run of Aggression and Repression

Fiftyish Dimitra lives in Athens with widowed mother Rea.

Dimitra has ordered a treadmill which Rea disproves of. It can’t fit in the flat unless several objects are moved so it rests out on the balcony for the time being.

We often hear families are dysfunctional but do we know what that term means? Its meaning varies in each family it resides in.

Rea is critical, domineering, manipulative, insulting, offensive, physically abusive, insensitive, inflexible, nagging, obsessive, sneaky and a liar. The sheer wall of negativity is overwhelming, choking Dimitra forcing her deeper into the corner repressing what she is and what she could be.

Dimitra’s defence is partial reaction but mostly repression of her true emotions. She loses her temper, is distant, can be cruel and when pushed to the limit revengeful.

When Dimitra pulls the knife from the drawer will that be the ultimate revenge or will the treadmill be her therapy?

Pull a psychiatrist into the viewing room and I am certain there will be some mention of Rea and Dimitra needing to express their true emotions to each other and “build a trusting relationship”. Baloney. Too late for that here.

There should be a “Treadmill the Sequel” to delve into why Rea is so destructive, bitter and hateful? In the meantime, you can be an Ultra in the football stadium cheering poor Dimitra on. It is clear she is running on empty and Rea on unlimited bitterness.

RKS 2025 Film Rating 84/100. Directorial debut of this short is by George Kimissis.

RKS 2025 Film: “Párvulos: Children of the Apocalypse”

Watching the Mexican horror film “Párvulos: Children of the Apocalypse” be prepared for a film like you’ve never seen before. Chalked full of suspense, horror, comedy with The Book of Revelations and the seven trumpets thrown in made more compelling by superb black and white cinematography, costuming and an adaptive soundtrack.

Salvador (Farid Correa), 17, Oliver (Leonardo Cervantes), 12 and Benjamin (Mateo Ortega Casillas) 7, live in an isolated stone house in a forest without their parents who it is reasonable to assume have perished in the devastating Omega plague along with seemingly most of the world. The defence of vaccine crumbled with the virus mutating ahead of vaccines. The last vaccine backfires creating zombies and look out as if bitten by an infected zombie then zombiedom will be your fate.

The boys have two zombies chained in a cell in the basement they feed with rats and dog meat. Vicious, slobbering and snarling zombies they are. Put two and two together, get the hint, and you’ll guess why the boys are caring for these vile creatures. Whilst you are shivering in fright in your seat a sudden twist into dark comedy will set you off course and before you formulate a thought this diversion is cheesy you are thrust back onto the terror trail.

The two basement zombies are not looking too well (as far as zombie health can be detected) with a diet of rat and dog meat and after feasting on a possible girlfriend for Salvador the boys notice the basement zombies seem quieter, more relaxed and almost thriving and becoming more dangerous than the zombies, the boys go hunting for fresh human meat gruesomely bagging the main course for their basement guests.

A mystic-religious type smashes into the boys’ house spouting stories about the chosen one and sensing the boys are not baptized veers into threatening religious gibberish. The mystic is a bad Mexican villain spaghetti western like character. Your instincts relating to this character are right. Don’t trust him for a minute as he is consumed with the seven trumpets of the biblical Book of Revelations and well all hell breaks loose with sacrifices, stabbing and a vengeful zombie.

A quirky ending. In the beginning of the film the boys recall their father used to say there are two constants in life: family and change. How that makes sense with the ending!

Gruesome, horrific, zombie satirical/humorous, mystical all in a neat horrific bowl of a protein rich breakfast worm smoothie.

Watch the trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMPA7Dek0cI

Will be available on VOD 3June2025.

Directed by Isaac Ezban.

RKS 2025 Film Rating 91/100.