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Carts of Darkness

Murray Siple's feature-length documentary follows a group of homeless men who have combined bottle picking with the extreme sport of racing shopping carts down the steep hills of North Vancouver. This subculture depicts street life as much more than the stereotypes portrayed in mainstream media. The film takes a deep look into the lives of the men who race carts, the adversity they face and the appeal of cart racing despite the risk. Shot in high-definition and featuring tracks from Black Mountain, Ladyhawk, Vetiver, Bison, and Alan Boyd of Little Sparta.

Grade 10 - 12

Heath/Personal Development / Substance Use and Abuse/Addiction

Social Studies / Contemporary Issues

Educational purpose:

Encourage discussion around homelessness and alcoholism: How are these topics glorified in the film? In what ways could these men be considered outlaws? Is cart racing a bona fide extreme sport? In what ways is the men’s racing dangerous to themselves and others? Does the fact that they are helping the environment justify this practice? Challenge the definition of wealth, as it is depicted in the film. Consider the concept of lifestyle choices evident in the film. This film deals with mature subject matter .

Maureen Rossong, Halifax Regional Municipality, NS

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Comments

  • bart65

    bart65

      “"frame of reference" : stepping into the shoes of someone else, unbias and non-judgemental..........................Murray captured the subjects and his audience in the stereotypical world of the"less fortunate".............if only the "normal" people realize, humanity of this kind, is the wisest.....”

    21 Jun 2010
    1 person likes this | Like
  • gummagucci

    gummagucci

      “An informative look into a life not too many people know about or could understand. A wonderful film about people who "missed the boat", sometimes through their own choosing.I'm a visual artist. This film makes me want to get into making films. I was a still photographer for 25 years, maybe I should try motion pictures.”

    11 Apr 2010
  • elsathelion@hotmail.com

    elsathelion@hotmail.com

      “This is an amazing film - thank you for this sensitive (and thrilling) look into the lives of the cart-racers!”

    6 Feb 2010
    1 person likes this | Like
  • sharpejacquie@hotmail.com

    sharpejacquie@hotmail.com

      “Great film, loved it. Don't stop making films! Feel this film will stay with me for sometime. Not a usual feeling in our times of flash of light stimulations. It seems that your ability to capture "humanity" reflects what I imagine to be your core. ”

    25 Jan 2010
    1 person likes this | Like
  • teyamathias@hotmail.com

    teyamathias@hotmail.com

      “Fergie taught me how to play the memory game when I was like 5 and was a realy good guy that always took time for the little people.”

    24 Jan 2010
    1 person likes this | Like
  • yuallthetime

    yuallthetime

      “The homeless (the unseen) are the last of the great frontier! Cowboys on bucking carts. Out of the block and down the treacherous hills! Inside this invisible community of misfits and outcast live real people. Look closer next time. You might really see someone inside. ”

    11 Jan 2010
    1 person likes this | Like

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