Canadian Labour Film Festival visits Vimy Hall Nov. 29
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Updated: November 26, 2009 4:42 PM
Labour’s global struggle against the establishment’s machine moves to Vimy Hall for Sunday’s day-long film festival.
The Canadian Labour International Film Festival will see nine films screened in the historic hall that holds about 100.
CLIFF is dedicated to working folks, their unions and the communities as documented in the festival’s slate of probing flicks.
Organizer and Cowichan school trustee Eden Haythornthwaite explained CLIFF could hit close to home for some viewers.
“This event begins to redress the balance between corporate entertainment and the true culture of all who work everyday to provide for our families and build our communities.”
Films include From The Edge Of The Blade: workers’ rebellion in Mexico; Wal-Mart Nation: The World Movement to roll back Wal-Mart; Poor No More, social solutions in Ireland and Sweden; The Philosopher Kings, janitors at major U.S. universities speak out; Dear John, Welland, Ont. resist plant closures; Seeds Of Peace, Palestinian workers struggle for equal treatment; Six Weeks Of Solidarity, the Winnipeg General Strike 70 years later; 12,000 Men, the struggle of Cape Breton coal miners; and Defying The Law: the epic struggle to unionize steel factories in Hamilton.
Cowichan-bound films are part of a national movie event dedicated to working people, said Haythornthwaite.
“Most films these days are soap operas of people who don’t work for a living.
“I’m looking forward to Poor No More with Mary Walsh, and Wal-Mart Nation is very pertinent to this valley,” she said of the retail giant’s Cowichan Commons super centre.
She also cited Dear John.
“Welland’s plant closures will echo for people living through local forest-industry roll backs.”
The films – such as Six Weeks Of Solidarity — might be instructive to valley students too.
“Most kids in our schools come from working families so they should be proud and appreciate their community.
“When you don’t know the history of where you come from, you really have no identity at all,” she said.
Your ticket:
What: Canadian Labor International Film Festival
When: Nov. 29, 1 to 9 p.m.
Where: Vimy Hall, 3968 Gibbins Rd., Duncan
Tickets: Free. Call 250-709-7975
