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Pieces of a Dream: A Story of Gambling

2003 48 min
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When Phillip Wong died by suicide, his family thought that silence would end their pain. But his sister, filmmaker Michelle Wong, needed to make sense of her brother's death. What drove him to end his life at age 36? Weaving together intimate conversations with those closest to Phillip, as well as her own candid reflections, Wong embarks on a personal journey. Gently peeling away layers of silence, she uncovers her brother's story of gambling addiction and his lonely spiral into desperation, isolation and depression. Filmed against the backdrop of the noisy casinos of Las Vegas and the quiet town of …

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Pieces of a Dream: A Story of Gambling

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When Phillip Wong died by suicide, his family thought that silence would end their pain. But his sister, filmmaker Michelle Wong, needed to make sense of her brother's death. What drove him to end his life at age 36?

Weaving together intimate conversations with those closest to Phillip, as well as her own candid reflections, Wong embarks on a personal journey. Gently peeling away layers of silence, she uncovers her brother's story of gambling addiction and his lonely spiral into desperation, isolation and depression.

Filmed against the backdrop of the noisy casinos of Las Vegas and the quiet town of St. Paul, Alberta, the documentary lays bare the grief of family and friends. Sifting through feelings of guilt, sadness and shame, the once-fragmented family begins to discover a new closeness. This heart-wrenching film is a sister's uncompromising search for the truth and healing--for herself, her family, and others struggling with addiction.
  • writer
    Michelle Wong
  • director
    Michelle Wong
  • associate director
    Wendy Hill-Tout
  • editor
    Bridget Durnford
  • assistant editor
    Claudia Durnford
  • director of photography
    Daron Donahue
  • additional camera
    Craig Wrobleski
  • DV camera
    Wendy Hill-Tout
    Michelle Wong
    Sandi Somers
  • location sound
    Jamie Kidd
  • additional sound
    Frank Russo
    Gary Bruckner
  • grip
    Marc McPherson
  • production assistant
    Tina Sinha
    Corinne Cornish
    Claudette Breton
    Faye Yoneda
  • online editor
    Tyler Hill
  • colourist
    Joe Owens
  • original music
    Bruce Leitl
  • guitar
    Russ Broom
  • sound design
    Frank Laratta
  • sound design assistant
    Jason Lawrence
    Steve Allen
  • background performer
    Yeatland Wong
  • production in development
    Wendy Hill-Tout
    Michelle Wong
  • studio clerk
    Ginette D'Silva
  • production supervisor
    Kelly Isaac
  • program administrator
    Darin Clausen
    Margaret Smith
  • associate producer
    Wendy Hill-Tout
  • producer
    Bonnie Thompson
    Jerry Krepakevich
  • executive producer
    Graydon McCrea

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