How does one find meaning growing up? How does one develop a sense of responsibility if there are no role models to watch? How does one create self-esteem if nobody seems to care?
Invisible City – a film which was honoured with the Best Canadian Feature Documentary award at this year’s Hot Docs festival – endeavours to answer these questions, intertwining the stories of two youths in Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood with the massive redevelopment and gentrification of the area.
From a cinematic point of view, Invisible City is an excellent documentary and a very good film. A subtle soundtrack enhances pensive photography and elegant editing. Personally, I dislike excessive intertitles in documentaries because they replace explanations that could otherwise be provided by interview subjects, archival footage, or voice-overs. I think that these other options gradually augment the mood of the film compared to a three second burst of information and in my mind director Hubert Davis missed a chance to weave additional perspectives into the film’s tapestry of personalities.
Viewers need to step beyond the role of an audience member and think about the film as a citizen. How do we (personally and as a society) behave towards outsiders or the less fortunate? I have some idea based on experience but I can’t say that there is a definite solution.
On one hand, I want to say that everyone should treat others as individuals, giving respect and providing opportunities to succeed. Despite whatever happens at school or in the city, everyone needs to understand that they will be known by their actions. The police may patrol Regent Park frequently but residents shouldn’t place themselves in bad situations by breaking the law or hanging out with those who do. It may be bad luck to have been caught in the act but in the end, it was an act that was self-destructive or dangerous to others.
One scene that crops up as I reflect about the film is a discussion between Mikey and his mother after he got into a fight because somebody he didn’t know “talked to [him].” I despise logic like that. Hopefully, Mikey realizes the fallacies in his argument upon viewing the film and self-evaluating his actions.
The film was screened at Eastern Commerce C.I. for staff members and Hubert Davis and Kendell were present. Fortunately, although it may have taken a little longer, both of the film’s subjects seem to be moving forward at school and in the workplace. ****