11/09/2024
Wow. Feeling very good today about both the turnout and the quality of the discussion last night after our first public screening of Peering Ahead at the newly-redesigned Cinéma du Parc.
The film was never intended for public viewing. It was a passion project to arm a group of inspiring psychiatric patients with a tool to spread their groundbreaking initiative to other mental health institutions. But, the arbitrary and downright mean way their program was shut down this summer has forced the film out into the wild to achieve two goals.
GOAL 1: To draw attention to this injustice and get answers as to how and why the decision was made, a basic level of dignity the MUHC has still not offered the patients. And uphold the general principle that public institutions should never be permitted to operate like this.
GOAL 2: Help this beautiful model that has brought so much healing into our city find a new home, one that deserves them.
The film is no Citizen Kane or Everything, Everywhere All at Once, but the reaction last night, with almost everyone in the audience staying for an entire hour of post-film discussion, which then spilled out into the lobby for another hour...well...it seems it's a film that has a role to play right now.
If you're intersted in a few more details, I was interviewed on CBC radio yesterday, along with RTP co-founder Cecelia Vanier. It's a pretty solid introduction to the sitch.
(Obviously can't share a news link on FB in Canada, but if you google '"Montreal documentary sheds light" Sabrina' it should come up.)