THE CANADIAN SPORT FILM FESTIVAL 2017

DAY 1

To the highest point of the multistory TIFF Bell Lightbox, held what some film buff’s called “ airplane formatted” This allowed themselves to land in a non-hackneyed Purlieu where there was no habitual tang of residue left on a single shark’s tooth.

We let our eyes begin to be fed on Saturday. With some assistance of a kernel of course. “ The Boy Who Learned To Fly” was the 1st 7-minute brief film at 2 pm. Directors Limber Fabian & Jake Wyatt successfully showcased in animation Usain Bolt’s success of trail mix leading him to become the fastest man alive. With an aud of adolescents, it was perfect to engage any age group. If you don’t have an exact fine appreciation for synchronized swimming, your going to now. Waterbabies really put the nail to the timber without a hammer. From the intense training, leading to their performance, all aspects were greatly needed to show. The underwater cam was a fascinating piece. As a viewer seeing synchronized swimming at the Olympics, you don’t realize the struggles to get to point A and point B, without air to create the perfect “ flow” of the performance. It takes a certain kind of person to fight gravity holding your teammates head above water to perform a stunt. Almost like cheerleading but having every impetus against you. At the end of this film, so many hands of children went up when the question was asked to “Who would want to become a synchronized swimmer after watching”. You can’t feel any more accomplished as an athlete knowing you inspired youth to take part in such as physical/articulate sport.

Picture this, you live in Canada’s Arctic. In a situation where you’re the only one in your family to graduate from high school or simply feeling you’re stuck in a non-motivating village of isolation. But there is one woman named Maggie MacDonnell, that hands you an opportunity to change your life. With a team of soldiers on your shoulder telling you to say “No”, do you take it? Seven Inuit youth travel from Salluit, Quebec to Hawaii to complete a half marathon. The natural and raw of this film suited like a bow-tie. No high-end equipment or production that would take away from the true heart-to-heart journey of this group. A weight was immediately put on, as you can just imagine how tuff it was to travel so far and perform how incredibly well they did. The kids were elated to see a few members of the Salluit Run Club in person to answer their burning questions. It makes the whole enjoyment of the film, more humanized. Knowing these people really exists and get the chance to project your thoughts to these exact people.

“Just Breathe,” says an undergraduate and captain of a women’s polo team, Beth in the 8-minute documentary. She shares her encounters with balancing school and upsetting challenges along the way. It models the line between what outside veneration is and what occurs at the center. This ushered gray matters past boundaries of humanity, preparing for what the principal movie had ready for us….

So let’s say you have played on 3 championship teams, let me rephrase that. 3 NFL championship teams ( hard to conceptualize, I know) You put “touch” in “touchdown”, led the Lions to your fist world championship and oh not to mention, you were given the biggest honor from your country possible by being drafted into the United States Army, all in the same lifetime. You also had what most brothers dream of, conquering the field on the same NFL team. To know you were so well loved in the game, you stayed in the NFL as an assistant coach.

This would be Lew Carpenter.

Requiem for a Running Back – directed by his daughter Rebecca Carpenter. Rebecca shows Mr. Carpenters story as if you were apart of the family, felt the hurt and trying to put piece by piece to her father’s story. Lew Carpenter was the 18th NFL player to be diagnosed with CTE. This would be post-delivery of news after Lew Carpenter passed away in 2010.

It is important for any athlete, of any caliber, of any level in their career to view this film. This film is relatable to many kids with father related hardships. Yes, your dad might not have played in the NFL or was diagnosed with CTE, but the discomfort Rebecca went through via complications in her relationship with Lew can be quite similar to many children.

Lew never experienced a concussion in his football career. Which is why it’s so important for any level leagues to take note. It’s an honor to play at a professional level, but it shouldn’t come with the extreme repercussions. Below is an image of a normal brain and advanced CTE. Taking any blow to the head, over time becomes almost as a ticking time bomb. “The damage in football players has been linked to acceleration forces due to head impact,” explains Robin Cleveland, to NewScientist.com Extending your head can create almost a shock force. Very similar to Boxing. This has been an extensive conversation throughout other leagues such as the NHL. The men in the big seats, don’t seem to want to provide the full course meal. In April, the NHL lost a bid to force Boston University to hand over CTE data, while around the same time, 4 junior hockey players were diagnosed with CTE according to Boston Universty, provided by TSN. It’s still pretty clear Garry Bettman, the NHL’s commissioner, continues to decline any links to CTE and the league’s concussions. This has been an on-going movement since 2015.

Rebecca Carpenter told us at the “Requiem For a Running Back Skype Call” that it starts with provoking dialogue. She continues to explain how we have all sorts of trainers and nutritionists that can fix any athletes problems but, were still lacking therapists and physiatrists.

For more information on Lew Carpenter, Rebecca Carpenter, and Requiem for a Running Back visit www.requiemforarunningback.com

DAY 2

This wouldn’t be a proper start without Peter Pacifica. I’m not going to lie to you saying there weren’t a few tears coming through rapidly from each socket. Electrocuted, by his positive energy was lemonade refreshing. After being evicted from his long-time home Peter and his brother regrouped living at the Motel 6. Despite extra gravel on the road, Peter takes his passion by the hand to reach his 500th game at Pacifica Highschool. His love for animals created an obvious parade by not giving up on his cats and bunny, the main focus of being declined for an apartment, they were supposed to move into.

You can STILL donate to Peter Pacifica, to help out in what is described his “day to day” here: www.gofundme.com/peterpacifica

Jussi Koivula – a Finnish boxer that beat life’s fight early on. How? Growing up with both parents from an alcohol prone background, orphaned at 12 years old and lost two of his siblings to substance abuse. This film wasn’t in English, strange enough it really felt like an extending that punch further, into deepening the conception of Jussi’s life. His dedication to boxing shows through every minute and every scene of him training He explains his life from the most modest and genuine place brought each gasp that spoke volume in that theater. Trying to put two wires to your head, to comprehend how Jussi and the human mind being so powerful, that self-pity was never in Jussi’s dictionary.

We asked Jussi via Skype at CSFF what advice he has for young athletes that come from the same background. He talked about how adulthood, is a start over, for children that come from similar circumstances and believing in yourself, is a true asset. It’s in your power to make that move. We cannot wait to see the moves Jussi makes in his career and thrilled to watch a journey we might have never got the chance to see.

A loud maverick thank you to CSFF, Russell, and Daniel from TWPR, for setting us up and having us. It was greatly appreciated and we are looking much forward to attending again