Grade 9 - 12
Diversity/Pluralism
/ Diversity in Communities
Heath/Personal Development
/ Healthy Relationships
Geography
/ Territory: Urban
English Language Arts
/ Poetry
Educational purpose:
Study the work of Cohen and draw connections between his life and his poetry. Encourage students to describe their own writing process. Start a poetry workshop and have students record their thoughts on the subjects and techniques used. Find aspects of local culture that might inspire students (fairs, concerts, art galleries, car shows, theatre or movies) and visit them if possible. Students can take photos/notes and later attempt to turn their experiences into poetry. How do these experiences affect their writing?
Michèle Sadeek, Whitby, ON
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Adam Symansky
A lot of Donald's work was salvage jobs for other people, and that's how he came to do this film. Don Owen shot the tour of the four poets, couldn't get it to work and Brittain came in and saw that the only thing that worked was the Leonard Cohen segments.
The most interesting thing is the exploration of documentary truth, where Cohen writes in the bathtub, caveat emptor, and then the two of them sit in the theatre and Don questions him about that scene. It's an interesting exchange. The whole film is basically the two of them saying, "Don't believe everything you see just because it's documentary."
They stayed friends all their life. Cohen was at Don's funeral in tears. They recognized each other as authentic human beings. The lived the lives they wanted to lead.
From the playlist : Donald Brittain: Writer, filmmaker, storyteller.