Interview with a Free Man

Their bodies will forever bear the marks of their suffering. But thanks to an outing organized by the Association des grands brûlés, these burn victims get to enjoy a family day at the beach. Enduring the curious stares of strangers isn't easy, but the desire to lead a full life, especially on such a beautiful summer day, is simply too strong. By sharing the inspiring stories of these men and women, Jeremy Peter Allen's At the Beach invites us to embrace our differences. This film is part of the 2014 edition of the 5 Shorts Project, created by the National Film Board of Canada and produced in conjunction with Spirafilm, a Quebec cooperative dedicated to independent cinema.

An animated short film that follows the tribulations of a cartoon character, Bob Dog, as he hunts for a job. Self-motivation, preparing a résumé, contacting people by phone and mail, getting ready for an interview and the interview itself--all are dealt with in a highly entertaining fashion. The Motown mover Get a Job provides the upbeat musical sound track.

In Toronto, Izabel, Bebeth, Natasha, Benoît, Grace and Jean, members of Ontario's "working poor" directly affected by the economic crisis, agree to take part in group sessions organized by filmmaker Geoff Bowie. They talk about having to work multiple jobs to get by, describe the stress generated by financial vulnerability, and courageously explain their strategies for getting out of their difficult situation. Touching, insightful and full of hope, Courage is a participatory social-issues film that emphasizes the importance of mutual aid and succeeds admirably in condemning the taboo of poverty.