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And So to Bed

This feature documentary is all about beds: their cultural, personal, psychological, and physical importance is examined by Peabody Award-winning director Jeff McKay. This curious film about a seemingly mundane subject takes us on an unusual odyssey into the world of the commonplace: throughout the film, we visit the beds of families, Nevada sex workers, truckers, a prisoner convicted of murder, artists, an undertaker, a coroner, and a homeless man who remembers his mother tucking him in as a child. We even visit the bed of acclaimed filmmaker Guy Maddin. From the threat of bed bugs to the transient nature of …
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This feature documentary is all about beds: their cultural, personal, psychological, and physical importance is examined by Peabody Award-winning director Jeff McKay. This curious film about a seemingly mundane subject takes us on an unusual odyssey into the world of the commonplace: throughout the film, we visit the beds of families, Nevada sex workers, truckers, a prisoner convicted of murder, artists, an undertaker, a coroner, and a homeless man who remembers his mother tucking him in as a child. We even visit the bed of acclaimed filmmaker Guy Maddin. From the threat of bed bugs to the transient nature of RV and motel beds, this film takes a fresh look at the most familiar of topics.

Psychology and Psychiatry Social Issues All subjects
  • direction
    Jeff McKay
  • editor
    Jeff McKay
  • producer
    Kent Martin
  • cinematography
    John Walker
  • sound
    Norman Dugas
    Ross Redfern
  • camera assistant
    Linda Danchak
    David Niven
    Akira Nishihata
  • assistant editor
    Patrick Lowe
  • production manager
    Graham Ashmore
    Nicole McKay
  • research
    Jeff McKay
    Graham Ashmore
  • story consultant
    Amanda McConnell
  • production co-ordinator
    Patricia Coughran
  • additional research
    David Theodore
    Andrew Kingsley
    Peter Bundy
  • composer
    Ian Hodges
  • additional music
    Oscar Peterson
    Johannes Brahms
    Harold Budd
    Maurice Ravel
  • animation
    Jason Doll
  • technical coordinator
    Scott Collins
    Claude Cardinal
  • sound editor
    Saul Henteleff
  • re-recording
    John Schritt
  • studio clerk
    Sia Koukoulas
    Stephanie Coolen
    Vanessa Larsen
    Rolande Petit
  • unit administrator
    Marie Tonto-Donati
    John William Lutz
  • participation
    Luke Smit
    Ben Smit
    Emily Dicks
    Susan Dicks
    Shelly McMillan
    Armand Leo
    Doug Finlay
    Ruthie
    Lisa McKay
    Elizabeth McKay
    Terry Galloway
    Alexander Cockburn
    Barbara Yaley
    Shirley Schoonbaert
    John Schoonbaert
    Sunset
    Camille Andréa
    Sade
    Laura Lee
    Gwen Allison
    Richard Hunter
    Joseph Umbrino
    Mala Sinha
    Bev Pike
    Melissa Steele
    Peter Markenstyn
    Mike Doyle
    Salah Hussein
    Chico Laframboise
    Joseph John Johnson
    Bob Gardiner
    Annie Schumila
    Guy Maddin
    George Toles
  • voice
    Laurel Thomson
    Steve Snyder
    James Bond Shaw
    Ryan Martens
    Kathy Block
    Terry Goertzen
    Baby
    Pamela Sinha
    Melanie Manchulenko
    Peter Bundy
    Susan James
  • gaffer
    Laurence Marden
  • additional sound
    Saul Henteleff
  • titles
    NFB Visual Effects Services
  • executive producer
    Sally Bochner
    Don Haig

Education

Ages 18+

Notes

Warnings: M 

Nudity, sex-trade workers, sadism/masochism, mature content. Preview highly recommended. 

Lesson Launcher/Inquiry Questions: 

This film examines the important role of the bed in various people’s lives. Older students will benefit from discussion and research following this video. Was the interview style an effective way to present this topic? What issues were raised that surprised you or challenged your thinking? Has your opinion about beds changed? According to the filmmaker, this film was declared by a Member of Parliament to be a “waste of taxpayer money” even though it came in under budget. Debate, write or discuss this statement. 

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And So to Bed
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