Rage Against the Darkness

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Rage Against the Darkness
Directed by John Kastner
Screenplay byJohn Kastner
Produced byJohn Kastner
Deborah Parks
CinematographyDouglas Pike
John Westheuser
Edited byGreg West
Music byBruce Fowler
Production
company
J.S. Kastner Productions
Distributed by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Release date
Running time
230 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

Rage Against the Darkness is a Canadian documentary film, directed by John Kastner and released in 2003. [1] The film profiles Bunny and Leona, two elderly sisters whose relationship changes radically when they must enter long-term care, but by circumstance are placed in two separate institutions instead of together.

Contents

The film was inspired in part by Kastner's mother Rose, who was deeply afraid of having to enter a nursing home before her death in 1983. [1] It was originally commissioned by CBC Television as an episode of the documentary series Witness , although the network found the film so strong that it was instead turned into a standalone short run documentary series. [2] The episode centred on Bunny and Leona screened theatrically, while the television-only episodes profiled the experiences of Gert Stevenson, Phillip Rowley and Helen Beck as they also either lived in or desperately tried to avoid the elder care system. [3]

The film premiered at the 2003 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, [4] and the television version was broadcast by CBC Television from September 15 to 19, 2004. [3]

Awards

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipientResultRef.
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival 2003 Best Canadian Feature Documentary John Kastner Won [5]
Gemini Awards 2005 Donald Brittain Award John Kastner, Deborah ParksNominated [6]
Best Direction in a Documentary ProgramJohn KastnerNominated
Best Photography in a Documentary Program or SeriesDouglas Pike, John WestheuserNominated

References

  1. 1 2 Martin Knelman, "A mother's fear and inspiration". Toronto Star , April 30, 2003.
  2. ↑ John Doyle, "Finding strength in the darkness of twilight years". The Globe and Mail , September 15, 2004.
  3. 1 2 "Rage Against the Darkness examines issues facing our aging population". Sudbury Star , September 11, 2004.
  4. ↑ Gayle MacDonald, "'True story' films promise to challenge the senses". The Globe and Mail , April 3, 2003.
  5. ↑ "Hot Docs festival hands out 12 awards". The Globe and Mail , May 6, 2003.
  6. ↑ Alex Strachan, "Two top comedies all but snubbed by Geminis". Vancouver Sun , October 12, 2005.
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