Everyone loves anniversaries, and June 15 marks Vancouver’s big one-year on the 2011 hockey riots, a vexing experience for all involved: residents, police, politicians, hockey fans, Canadians, and the rest of world who sat there wondering WTF?
In the world’s most liveable city, the details have become wearisome and blurred. An uncomfortable family story for most, and people just want to move on.
But there’s still anxiety in Canada’s pacific paradise, and there always has been. Despite the postcards, Vancouver is an uneasy frontier, teeming with disparity and complexity.
So what happened that night? Beyond the routine reports? Someone must be able to account for more, beyond the easy answers, and into the real emotions of all that flailing humanity.
I stumbled on this trailer for Effigy, BC, a poignant looking documentary by Vancouver filmmaker Thom Stitt. It is a subtly crafted and poetic collection of observations, both chilling and affecting. The films looks to be finally, a reaching discussion about the staggering events that rocked rain city last June.
From Thom’s website:
I followed Vancouver through the 2011 playoffs.
When the pot boiled over.
When people changed.
When the city transformed briefly by fire into another place.
we are communicating 