Pictou County remains of two minds about their pulp mill, both a source of economic stability for the town and a place filling Pictou Harbour with dangerous chemicals. The mill is considered the dirtiest in Canada, but a question looms over this documentary. It is unknown at the beginning whether they’ll clean things up or…

This well-shot, interesting documentary My Dads, My Moms and Me is a unique take on having queer parents, and what that means for children in this age. We are shown three sets of parents at one point, and then we’re shown the families again 12 years later. What a difference a decade can make in…

This harrowing tale of a husband and father who comes out in Guatemala City is one of the most affecting — if not exciting — films this year. The story of 40-year-old Pablo, and the things he loses when he declares his love for his gay partner, is so off-putting it will cause your stomach…

This incredible, visually stunning documentary follows the life and difficulties INXS lead singer Michael Hutchence faced throughout his career. Writer-director Richard Lowenstein creates an astounding, honest portrayal of the man without ever apologizing for his behaviour. The truth is that Michael Hutchence was a difficult person, and he struggled a great deal. His upbringing was…

This character examination of Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu, now the Prime Minister of Israel, draws some incredible parallels to Trump, the pompous U.S. President. Bibi, who began as a meek spokesperson, has worked as an ambassador in Washington, and this is his second term as PM. He’s evolved over time to become one of the most…

I still remember my time working at the multiplex. Over nine years, I watched the conversion from Empire Theatres to Cineplex, the change from 35MM film to digital, and the rise of 3D once again. I love the movies, and that passion is why these reviews, a labour of love, line this site. So it’s…

Conviction is the type of documentary that’s so difficult to watch, but so incredibly necessary. This trio of female directors, made up of Nance Ackerman, Arielle Pahlke and Teresa MacInnes, create a sharp, moving picture here. It follows Caitlin, Laura, Treena, and Bianca, and shows how poverty, trauma, sexual abuse and other factors lead to…

Because We Are Girls is the kind of documentary that grips you to your core, and leaves you feeling different than you did walking in. This examination of an Indian family — and the cultural bindings that failed the young girls under their parents care — is both a microscopic study of the ills of…

What starts with a lawsuit by Barenaked Ladies performer Kevin Hearn ends in a web of deceit and forgery that I never could have imagined. This isn’t a documentary: This true story is an absolute rollercoaster about First Nations painter Norval Morrisseau and whether the hundreds of paintings dated to the 1970’s are authentically his.…

This incredible story of drug trafficking, dirty cops and all around betrayal is one of the most intriguing of FIN 2019. When the Phillipines Government and SWAT-led police execute a raid in the drug-infested slums of Manilla, they call it a victory. And yet, questions are raised about the killings of some suspects on the…