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Unarmed Verses

This feature documentary presents a thoughtful and vivid portrait of a community facing imposed relocation. At the centre of the story is a remarkably astute and luminous 12-year-old black girl whose poignant observations about life, the soul, and the power of art give voice to those rarely heard in society. Unarmed Verses is a cinematic rendering of our universal need for self-expression and belonging.
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This feature documentary presents a thoughtful and vivid portrait of a community facing imposed relocation. At the centre of the story is a remarkably astute and luminous 12-year-old black girl whose poignant observations about life, the soul, and the power of art give voice to those rarely heard in society. Unarmed Verses is a cinematic rendering of our universal need for self-expression and belonging.

Cultural Diversity and Multiculturalism Social Issues Urbanism Music All subjects
Arts Black Communities in Canada All channels
  • writer
    Charles Officer
  • director
    Charles Officer
  • producer
    Lea Marin
  • executive producer
    Anita Lee
  • director of photography
    Mike McLaughlin
  • editor
    Andres Landau
  • editorial consultant
    Ricardo Acosta
  • sound recordist
    Mike Filippov
  • original music
    Menalon
  • featuring
    Francine Valentine
    Alva Valentine
    Keturah Francis
    Ryan Johnson
    Kenny Johnson
    Lavane Kelly
    Carleen Robinson
    Krystle Chance
    Q'Mal Labad-Workman
    Harry Knazan
    Des Rouges
    Jaydahmann
    Sydney Duff
    The Villaways Community
  • production supervisor
    Mark Wilson
  • studio administrator
    Stefanie Brantner
  • aerial photography
    Orbis Aerials
  • additional cinematography
    Charles Officer
    Greg Biskup
    Blake Hannahson
    Adrian Vieni
  • 1st assistant camera
    Chris Goll
  • digital media technician
    Zachary Cox
    Curry Leamen
  • additional sound recording
    Jason Milligan
    Scott Tremblay
  • production coordinator
    Andrew Martin-Smith
    Natalie van Dine
  • community liaison officer
    Carleen Robinson
  • technical coordinator
    Marcus Matyas
  • production manager
    Lori Chodos
    Nadine Simunic
  • assistant editor
    Curry Leamen
    Zoya Rezaie
  • online editor
    Serge Verreault
  • re-recording mixer
    Serge Boivin
  • sound facilities
    Tattersall Sound & Picture
  • sound designer
    David McCallum
  • sound fx editor
    Claire Dobson
    Krystin Hunter
  • marketing manager
    Melissa Wheeler
  • publicist
    Pat Dillon
  • legal counsel
    Peter Kallianiotis

Education

Ages 13 to 18
Mini-Lessons
Mini-Lesson - Unarmed Verses
School subjects
English Language Arts - Poetry Family Studies/Home Economics - Adolescent Development Family Studies/Home Economics - Housing

Ideal for encouraging students to use art to explore social issues. Use poetry, fiction, painting, music or another art form to create an artistic piece that explores a social issue affecting your life, family, neighbourhood or community. Describe your creative process, the themes you wanted to explore and the reaction that others had to the piece. Then create a second piece. How did others’ comments affect or influence your second piece? What surprised you about your own message and process?

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Unarmed Verses
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Home licence (worldwide); Classroom licence (Canada only)

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