Rage Against the Darkness
| Rage Against the Darkness | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | John Kastner |
| Screenplay by | John Kastner |
| Produced by | John Kastner Deborah Parks |
| Cinematography | Douglas Pike John Westheuser |
| Edited by | Greg West |
| Music by | Bruce Fowler |
Production company | J.S. Kastner Productions |
| Distributed by | Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |
Release date |
|
Running time | 230 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
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.
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
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival | 2003 | Best Canadian Feature Documentary | John Kastner | Won | [5] |
| Gemini Awards | 2005 | Donald Brittain Award | John Kastner, Deborah Parks | Nominated | [6] |
| Best Direction in a Documentary Program | John Kastner | Nominated | |||
| Best Photography in a Documentary Program or Series | Douglas Pike, John Westheuser | Nominated |
References
- ^ a b Martin Knelman, "A mother's fear and inspiration". Toronto Star, April 30, 2003.
- ^ John Doyle, "Finding strength in the darkness of twilight years". The Globe and Mail, September 15, 2004.
- ^ a b "Rage Against the Darkness examines issues facing our aging population". Sudbury Star, September 11, 2004.
- ^ Gayle MacDonald, "'True story' films promise to challenge the senses". The Globe and Mail, April 3, 2003.
- ^ "Hot Docs festival hands out 12 awards". The Globe and Mail, May 6, 2003.
- ^ Alex Strachan, "Two top comedies all but snubbed by Geminis". Vancouver Sun, October 12, 2005.