First-time filmmaker Ian Brewster sees a stark contrast between the optimism of Martin Luther King's “I Have a Dream” speech and the troubled lives of young people incarcerated at the correctional facility where he works. Brewster visits what he calls “Ground Zero of black on black violence”: the Glendower Circuit housing projects in Toronto, interviewing (in groups and one-on-one) black Canadians ranging in age from 9-17, who talk about neighborhood shootings, the gang mindset, the consequences of poverty, and life in single-parent homes. A couple of mothers explain how hard it is to raise children solo (noting that they can't afford to move out of the unsafe neighborhood), and religious leaders (including a pastor of a church where one teenager was gunned down at a funeral) articulate the difficulty of breaking the cycle of poverty and violence, while also emphasizing the positive roles of education and mentorship in guiding at-risk youth. While visiting various members of the community, Brewster—a black Canadian born in Trinidad—also talks about his own experience of growing up with a strong father who instilled in him self-confidence and open-mindedness. Shattered Dreams is not a comprehensive sociological portrait, but rather a compelling pastiche of the personal experiences of a particular community in crisis. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (J. Wadland)
Shattered Dreams
(2007) 45 min. DVD or VHS: $195. Landmark Media. PPR. Volume 23, Issue 4
Shattered Dreams
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: