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So Surreal: Behind the Masks film image; man in museum looking up

So Surreal: Behind the Masks

Ignite High School Screening

Book Now Trailer

From 1885 to 1951, Canadian law banned the Indigenous Potlatch ceremony. Those who defied the ban were arrested, and masks and ceremonial objects were confiscated. The Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw nation has made it their quest to track down these sacred items. In some cases, the masks traveled across the country and eventually to Europe, finding their way into museums and private art collections, as well as ending up in the hands of surrealists like Max Ernst, André Breton, and Joan Miró. So Surreal: Behind the Masks traces the delightful confluence of the Yup’ik sensibility and the Western avant-garde movement and demonstrates the tremendous impact of Indigenous art in the most unexpected corners.

Neil Diamond and Joanne Roberton’s hugely entertaining film is part detective movie, part art doc. As it moves back and forth between Alert Bay, New York, and Paris, it provides an unusual and little-known perspective on art history while highlighting the crucial work of redressing the cultural genocide perpetrated by Canadian and American authorities. Vital and vibrant, this film is an outstanding achievement and a strong choice for teachers seeking Indigenous films this time of year, and want to show students history and colonial themes from a surprising and eye-opening perspective.

 

Q&A with directors Neil Diamond & Joanne Robertson

Directors
Featuring

Neil Diamond, Bill Cranmer, Juanita Johnston, Chuna McIntyre, John McIntyre

Credits
Country of Origin

Canada

Year

2024

Language

English

G
88 min
Art, Music & Photography Documentary Indigenous Cinema
Rezolution Pictures

Credits & Director

Executive Producer

Catherine Bainbridge, Ernest Webb

Producer

Daniel Morin

Screenwriter

Neil Diamond, Joanne Robertson

Cinematography

Glauco Bermudez, Yoan Cart

Editor

Rebecca Lessard

Original Music

Anaïs Larocque

Neil Diamond headshot; So Surreal: Behind the Masks director

Neil Diamond

Neil Diamond is a Cree filmmaker from Waskaganish, Quebec, on the coast of James Bay. Neil co-directed the award-winning feature documentaries, Reel Injun (2009) and the more recent Red Fever (2024) along with Cree Spoken Here (2001), One More River (2004), and Heavy Metal: A Mining Disaster in Northern Quebec (2005). He is an award-winning photographer, and co-founder of The Nation, the first news magazine to serve the Cree of northern Quebec and Ontario.

Filmography: Cree Spoken Here (2001); One More River (2004); Heavy Metal: A Mining Disaster in Northern Quebec (2005); Reel Injun (2009); Inuit Cree Reconciliation (2013); Red Fever (2024)

Joanne Robertson headshot; So Surreal: Behind the Masks director

Joanne Robertson

Joanne Robertson grew up as a settler on the west coast on the lands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish). Today she is a director, researcher, and creative producer. She began her work with Rezolution Pictures over 25 years ago, collaborating with Cree co-director Neil Diamond on such documentary projects as Cree Spoken Here (2001), Dab Iyiyuu (2004-2006), and One More River (2004). She has worked as a story producer on APTN’s Lands Enchanted (2024) and the award-winning documentary Red Fever (2024).

Filmography: À Table (2010)

In-Cinema

Date

Time

Venue

Sept 27 9:30 am International Village, Theatre 10

How to Book

Free for schools, capacity for all films is limited. To book, submit your request with the online form below. Our Ignite team will respond to confirm availability and complete your booking.

Questions? Contact our Ignite team at [email protected]

Booking Request Form

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