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Rural Life (31)
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Andrew Britt at Shoal BayColin Low 1967 14 minBy using film as a means of communication, the people of Fogo Island, Newfoundland, voice some of their daily concerns. This film discusses fishermen's cooperation, the need for a fish plant, and adult education. -
Alexis Tremblay: HabitantJane Marsh 1943 37 minThis short documentary illustrates rural French Canadian life in the early 1940s. The film follows Alexis Tremblay and his family through the busy autumn days as they bring in the harvest and help with bread baking and soap making. Winter sees the children revelling in outdoor sports while the women are busy with their weaving, and, with the coming of spring young and old alike repair to the fields once more to plough the earth in preparation for another season of varied crops. One of the first NFB films to be produced, directed, written and shot by women.
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Bella BellaBarbara Greene 1975 27 minThis documentary short is an introduction to the Bella Bella (Heiltsuk) of Campbell Island, 500 km North of Vancouver on the Pacific Coast. Since the coming of settlers, these fishing people have watched their ancient Heiltsuk culture and their independence all but disappear. Today, in an energetic attempt to become self-sufficient, they are regaining both - successfully combining economic development with cultural revival.
We hear the Heiltsuk language spoken in the film (Haíɫzaqvḷa). -
The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to KaladarPeter Pearson 1968 49 minThe setting for this drama is a logging community, focusing on a man who chooses the unfettered life and uncertain income of an itinerant bush worker, even though it means that his family lives poorly as a result. The film is a study of the effects on family life of isolation and deprivation. Features a wonderful performance from a young Margot Kidder.
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Citizen DiscussionsColin Low 1967 28 minBy using film as a means of communication, the people of Fogo Island, Newfoundland, voice some of their concerns. This film discusses efforts to obtain provincial support for the United Maritimes Fisheries Co-op to run the Seldom fish plant, and comments on the subsequent decision by the Newfoundland government in favour of the Yellow Fish Company.
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The Children of Fogo IslandColin Low 1967 17 minThis short film from Colin Low presents the problems faced by the people of Fogo Island, Newfoundland and what keeps them committed to the land. Witness some of the magic of the island, as seen through the eyes of children, and understand why its inhabitants cling to its shores.
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Dan Roberts on FishingColin Low 1967 16 minThrough the use of film as a means of communication, the people of Fogo Island, Newfoundland, voice some of their daily concerns. This film looks at the success of the longliner and the problems encountered in obtaining and running it.
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Fishermen's MeetingColin Low 1967 27 minBy using film as a means of communication, the people of Fogo Island, Newfoundland, voice some of their daily concerns. In this film, some of the problems discussed are the lack of fish and the inability to market any species but cod.
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Fogo's ExpatriatesColin Low 1967 15 minIndividuals who have moved away from Fogo Island express their opinions on the life and problems of the Island.
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Gore RoadSarah Evett 1972 8 minThis short documentary is a contemplative road-trip down an old Québec country road in the southwest corner of the province. Family pictures, snapshots, live photography, the homespun philosophy of old folks, some glimpses of the new generation - the impressions are many, varied and gathered at random to build this evocative portrait. Mostly monochrome, with a touch of colour here and there for contrast.
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A Good HarvestBogdan Stefan 2016 6 minViewer Advisory: This film contains scenes of animal slaughter.
In a rural setting, the bleeding of a pig is depicted plainly, as an autumn ritual. A just and moving tribute to the handing down of actions that, shared across families and generations, also perpetuate true social solidarity. -
Hanging OnGermán Gutiérrez 1993 11 minThe deplorable situation of peasants who try to subsist in the overexploited land of the Northeastern Brazil.
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Introduction to Fogo IslandColin Low 1968 16 minThis film introduces the Fogo Island/Newfoundland Project series which is an experiment in how film can be a catalyst for social change by serving as a direct means of communication. It gives some basic facts about Fogo Island, Newfoundland, and explains why it was chosen for the film project.
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Joe Kinsella on EducationColin Low 1967 7 minJoe Kinsella talks about the problem of young people leaving Fogo Island after they finish their education.
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Le quêteux Tremblay (English Version)Michel Brault & André Gladu 1977 25 minGaspé fiddler William Tremblay describes his lifestyle. In times past, Quebec’s quêteux—neither beggars nor homeless—had a social function. They were respected figures who brought news, told tales and stories, cast spells, and were often fine musicians. In exchange, they were welcomed, lodged, and fed.
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The Mercer FamilyColin Low 1967 9 minThe Mercer family discusses the pressures that force the young people to leave Fogo Island and their families.
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Maritime MontageJulian Biggs & Rollo Gamble 1955 30 minThere are two subjects in this film--the cooperative movement stemming from St. Francis-Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and a rural fair at Egmont Bay, Prince Edward Island.
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A Memo from FogoRoger Hart 1972 41 minA retrospective look at Fogo Island, Newfoundland, four years after the original Newfoundland Project series was made. This is an assessment of the value of the programs initiated, and an illustration of what film can do to help spark new life in a fading community.
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The Noise of EnginesPhilippe Grégoire 2021 1 h 19 minAlexandre, an instructor at the Canadian customs college, returns home to his small town after his employer places him on compulsory leave. As he forms a new friendship with a female Icelandic drag racer, he finds himself under surveillance by police investigators trying to get to the bottom of the sexually explicit drawings that have been troubling the town.
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Prairie WomenBarbara Evans 1986 45 minThis film illustrates the struggles of Canadian prairies women to achieve a more just and humane society within the farm movement and at large. During the early 1900s, women on the prairies looked for ways to overcome their isolation. Out of the resulting farm women's organizations grew a group of women possessing remarkable intellectual abilities, social and cultural awareness, and advanced worldviews.
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PaulaScott Munn 2019 9 minBefore her operation, Paula was the husband, father, son and neighbour known as Paul. Now, she’s the only transgender person her community has ever met.
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Some Problems of FogoColin Low 1967 21 minBy using film as a means of communication, the people of Fogo Island, Newfoundland, voice some of their daily concerns and thoughts about the future. Some of the problems discussed are the fishermen's unions, the fish plant, able-bodied men on welfare, the problems of education, and the issue of the consolidation of schools.
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The Songs of Chris CobbColin Low 1967 7 minBy using film as a means of communication, the people of Fogo Island, Newfoundland, voice some of their daily concerns. In this film, Islander Chris Cobb sings his own songs and recites his poems about the old days and the recent changes on Fogo.
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Sovereign SoilDavid Curtis 2019 1 h 31 minSet in the northern wilds surrounding the tiny sub-Arctic town of Dawson City, Yukon, Sovereign Soil is an ode to the beauty of this ferocious, remote land and the wisdom of those who’ve chosen to call it home.
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Topics: Beyond the CityNettie Wild 2007 10 minCommunity health nurse Wendy Bradley (Yukon) and nurse educator Gayle Carriere (BC Interior Health Authority) describe drug use in rural areas and how they deal with the challenges of working in isolation and confronting stigma.
*Watch the complete documentary.
*View all 10 educational playlists.
*Explore the Teacher's Guide for this chapter. -
Thoughts on Fogo and NorwayColin Low 1967 16 minA discussion on the methods of fishing, marketing, organization and welfare in Norway, with reference to the situation on Fogo Island.
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To Kill a TigerNisha Pahuja 2022 2 h 5 minOn the night of a family wedding in a village in India, Ranjit’s 13-year-old daughter is abducted and sexually assaulted by three men. Ranjit takes on the fight of his life when he demands the men be brought to justice. With tremendous access to all facets of this story, To Kill a Tiger charts the emotional journey of an ordinary man thrown into extraordinary circumstances—a father whose love for his daughter forces a social reckoning that will reverberate for years to come.
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Undertaker for Life!Georges Hannan 2022 52 minUndertakers are anything but gloomy; they’re funny, generous and dedicated. We would gladly go on vacation with them, but sadly, they never have any dead time.
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William Wells Talks About the IslandColin Low 1967 11 minWilliam Wells defends the viability of Fogo Island and expresses his apprehension about the exodus of young people.
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A Woman's PlaceColin Low 1967 16 minTwo women discuss the roles and problems of women, education, and shopping on Fogo Island.
