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The filmmakers Hayley Gray and Elad Tzadok discuss their new documentary Unarchived, having its world premiere as part of the Vancouver International Film Festival this week, with Joseph Planta. Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.   Unarchived is a new documentary having its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival this week. It’s chronicles this shift in consciousness when it comes to appreciating history from multiple points of view. The dominant white colonial power structure is around us, and even more so in institutions like archives. Community archives as it were, across British Columbia, have been filling the need, or uncovering the blind spots of the institutionalised archives. We see a number of them throughout the province, like the BC Gay and Lesbian Archives, now housed at the City of Vancouver’s Archives, which began when Ron Dutton, collected material he’d encounter that would have otherwise been lost. We see the importance of collecting ephemera not just of communities and groups, but families as well. Joan Mayo, who we see in the film, did a lot of work saving film and photos of people from the community of Paldi, British Columbia, a mill town near Duncan, that saw an exodus of families once the local school closed as the mill closed. It’s a fascinating place that between the 1920s and the late 1960s had families of various groups, Sikh, Japanese, Chinese, white, all live in relative racial harmony. It might have been all lost to history if people didn’t save photos and simply write the names of the people therein on the back. We also see in Unarchived the work of reconciliation and decolonisation, and I’ll ask the filmmakers, who join me in person, what their experience was like capturing these recent moments in our history. There are two screenings, tomorrow, Friday evening, 30 September 2022 at SFU Woodwards at 6.15pm, and Sunday, 02 October 2022 at the International Village cinemas at noon. It’s also available on VIFF Connect. Visit www.viff.org for tickets and information. Joining me now are Hayley Gray and Elad Tzadok, they directed Unarchived. She is a graduate of Dalhousie University, and Vancouver Film School. Her previous work has been shown at various film festivals around the world, as well as Telus Optik, the Knowledge Network, the CBC, and Air Canada. He was born and raised in Israel, and moved to Vancouver, where he graduated from the Film Production Program at UBC. He co-founded Scopitone Films, and he’s produced, directed and edited music videos, commercials, narrative films, and documentaries. Unarchived is a National Film Board of Canada production. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Hayley Gray, and Elan Tzadok. Mr. Tzadok, good morning; and Ms. Gray, good morning.   The post Hayley Gray and Elad Tzadok first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The writer and journalist Harrison Mooney discusses his new book Invisible Boy: A Memoir of Self Discovery (Patrick Crean Editions, 2022), with Joseph Planta. Invisible Boy: A Memoir of Self Discovery by Harrison Mooney (Patrick Crean Editions, 2022). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Invisible Boy Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. Harrison Mooney joins me now. His book Invisible Boy: A Memoir of Self Discovery has just been published. It is a powerful, unforgettable book that recounts his upbringing as an adopted infant by a white evangelical family. This takes place in Abbotsford, British Columbia, where Harrison is made to participate in his family’s revivalist church, while at home his racial identity is mocked and derided. He’s gaslit, and abused, and it seems for being Black. As he grows up, he contends with racism, overt and internalised, and begins recognising and understanding his story. He seeks his birth parents, and while the outcome in meeting both his mother and father are different, he begins to understand what was kept from him by his adopted family, and begins to understand the meaning of his life. And while the book is serious talking about identity, racism, transracial adoption, history, religion, and paranoia, the book is inflected with Mr. Mooney’s humour. It is a well-worth experience; necessary, urgent, as well as important. Harrison Mooney is a writer and journalist. He worked at the Vancouver Sun for nearly a decade as a reporter, editor and columnist. His writing has also appeared in the National Post, the Guardian, Yahoo, and Maclean’s. @HarrisonMooney is his Twitter handle. This new book is from Patrick Crean Editions, which is an imprint of HarperCollins. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, in person as it were, Harrison Mooney; Mr. Mooney, good morning. The post Harrison Mooney first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The writer and former broadcaster Tara McGuire discusses her debut memoir Holden After and Before: Love Letter for a Son Lost to Overdose (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2022), with Joseph Planta. Holden After and Before: Love Letter for a Son Lost to Overdose by Tara McGuire (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2022). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Holden After and Before Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. A rich, necessary read this season is the debut memoir from Tara McGuire, who joins me now. She has written Holden After and Before: Love Letter for a Son Lost to Overdose. It’s a reflection on grief, and a fascinating navigation and documentation of her son Holden Courage’s life. She retraces his last months, investigating the confluence of events leading to his death at twenty-one of an accidental opioid overdose. The sorrow of a parent is evident throughout the book, but the reader is also uplifted by learning about Holden and what kind of person he was to so many people. It is a beautiful life, and one that is reflected in the work he did as a graffiti artist. There’s also a lot of blank space in Tara’s excavation, and she employs some embroidery in her narrative, making for a conversation of sorts between her and her son. It’s a moving dialogue, and one that is informed by whatever fact Ms. McGuire could collect. The book is also a reminder that the opioid crisis is still with us, and needs addressing quickly. The lives lost that we see reflected in stark numbers monthly are more than that, they’re lives like Holden’s cut short needlessly. Tara McGuire is a former broadcaster turned writer, who is a graduate of The Writer’s Studio at Simon Fraser University, and the University of British Columbia’s School of Creative Writing. This new book is published by Arsenal Pulp Press, and will be launched tomorrow night, Wednesday, 28 September 2022. Visit Tara’s website at www.taramcguire.com for more information. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Tara McGuire; Ms. McGuire, good morning. The post Tara McGuire first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The filmmaker Nisha Platzer discusses her new feature length documentary back home, having its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival (30 September & 02 October 2022), with Joseph Planta. Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. There’s a new feature length documentary having its world premiere this week at the Vancouver International Film Festival, back home. Its director Nisha Platzer joins me now. The film is a moving meditation on loss and healing, as Nisha gets to know her older brother Josh some twenty years after he took his own life. She was not yet a teen when he died, and so she navigates his friends, his chosen family, as well as others around to get to know him, and heal. The film says a lot about family, and the people we choose to be around us, as well as the need for community at a time of loss. The grieving process, as we see in the film, takes form in different ways for different people, and the loss can also be visceral and manifest itself physically. The film is also visually fascinating and arresting. I’ll ask Ms. Platzer about how she made the film, and the various media that she uses like 16mm and Super8. Nisha Platzer is a queer artist and filmmaker from Vancouver. Her last short film Vaivén won the best film award at aluCine Latin Film & Media Arts Festival. She studied at the Escuela Internacional de Cine y Television in Cuba. This film, her first feature, is supported by Telefilm Talent to Watch, and recently presented at the Cannes Docs 2022 – Docs-in-Progress Canadian Showcase. Nisha Platzer produced the film with Joella Cabalu, and wrote it with Jenn Strom. The film screens this Friday evening at 6pm, 30 September 2022 at the Vancity Theatre, and Sunday afternoon, 02 October 2022 at 3.45pm at the Cinematheque. It appears sold out as of this morning, so you might have to just show up and get into a standby lineup for a chance to get in. Visit www.viff.org for more information. And visit www.melodiousimage.com for Nisha’s site. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Nisha Platzer; Ms. Platzer, good morning. The post Nisha Platzer first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The award-winning food and travel writer Sylvie Bigar discusses her new memoir Cassoulet Confessions: Food, France, Family and the Stew That Saved My Soul (Hardie Grant Books, 2022), with Joseph Planta. Cassoulet Confessions: Food, France, Family and the Stew That Saved My Soul by Sylvie Bigar (Hardie Grant Books, 2022). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Cassoulet Confessions Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. Sylvie Bigar joins me now. The award-winning food and travel writer has just published a new memoir Cassoulet Confessions: Food, France, Family and the Stew That Saved My Soul. It begins with an assignment to write about the slow-simmered concoction known as cassoulet. Along the way, and over the years, Ms. Bigar learns about the dish’s history, its devotees, its guardians, and the southern French countryside from which it originated, chiefly the Occitanie region. Sylvie writes so reverently of the meat and bean stew, getting her hands into the mix as it were, butchering meat, gathering the local ingredients needed for the cooking. As she does this, she’s transported to a dramatic childhood in Geneva, Switzerland. She reflects on her parents and their remarkable lives, and the uniqueness of their family. She also confronts her own heritage, her own ancestry, and her idea of home. It’s such a rich book, as everything comes together for Sylvie, and yields a very satisfying book. I defy anybody to read this book and not want to try making cassoulet. And in the appendices at the end of the book, she includes recipes for cassoulet and they each make allowances for one’s aptitude and or ambition in the kitchen. Sylvie Bigar’s writing has appeared in such publications as the New York Times, the Washington Post, Food & Wine, Forbes.com, Saveur, Bon Appetit, Edible, Departures, Travel & Leisure, and National Geographic Traveller. That’s just in English. In French, she’s contributed to Le Figaro, Historie Magazine, Le Temps, and French Morning.com. Her website is at www.sbigar.com. This new book is published by Hardie Grant Books. She joins me from New York City. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Sylvie Bigar; Ms. Bigar, good morning. The post Sylvie Bigar first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The public speaker and bestselling author Dr. Gabor Maté discusses the new book (written with Daniel Maté) The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, & Healing in a Toxic Culture (Avery, 2022), with Joseph Planta. The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, & Healing in a Toxic Culture by Dr. Gabor Maté, MD with Daniel Maté (Avery, 2022). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Myth of Normal Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. Dr. Gabor Maté joins me again. He’s just published a new book The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture. It looks at the causes of illness, and how our society and culture breeds disease. We seem obsessed with health, yet our collective health isn’t great. We’re concerned about living better, healthier lives, but they’re really not that ideal; 70% of Americans are on at least one prescription drug, while one in five Canadians has high blood pressure. I’ll ask Dr. Maté about his work as a physician and how he approached treating a physical illness presented by a patient. Very often he looked at the larger story of the patient. We talk about trauma, namely his own. It’s a big book, his magnum opus as it were. Dr. Gabor Maté is the noted public speaker and bestselling author. He has written many books including the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts. Dr. Maté first appeared on this program in 2018, on the tenth anniversary of that book’s publication. This new book is from Avery, and written with his son, Daniel Maté, who also has been on the program before, and who I hope to have on shortly. The website for more is at www.drgabormate.com. We taped this interview nearly three weeks ago. The post Dr. Gabor Maté first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The acclaimed author Joshua Whitehead discusses his new work of non-fiction Making Love with the Land (Knopf, 2022), with Joseph Planta. Making Love with the Land by Joshua Whitehead (Knopf, 2022). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Making Love with the Land Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. Joshua Whitehead joins me now. From the time his debut novel Jonny Appleseed was published in 2018, he has become one of the most exciting literary voices in Canada. He continues to enlighten and provoke with a new work of non-fiction that was recently published, Making Love with the Land. In the book he explores Indigeneity, queerness, as well as the body, the land, language, creativity, sleep, and various genres of writing. It’s a serious, important book, that is often leavened by the author’s humour. Joshua Whitehead is an Oji-Cree/nehiyaw, Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer member of the Peguis First Nation (Treaty 1). Jonny Appleseed was longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, and shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award in Fiction. His poetry collection full-metal indigiqueer was shortlisted for the inaugural Indigenous Voices Award for Most Significant Work of Poetry in English, and the Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry. Currently, he’s working on a PhD in Indigenous Literatures and Cultures at the University of Calgary. He joined me from Toronto nearly one month ago. Making Love with the Land is published by Knopf Canada. The website for more is at www.joshuawhitehead.ca. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program Joshua Whitehead; Professor Whitehead, good morning. The post Joshua Whitehead first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The author and comedian Charles Demers discusses his new novel, the second installment in the Doctor Annick Boudreau Mystery Series, Noonday Dark (Douglas & McIntyre, 2022), with Joseph Planta. Noonday Dark by Charles Demers (Douglas & McIntyre, 2022). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Noonday Dark Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. Charlie Demers joins me again. He’s got a new book coming out later this week, the second installment of the Doctor Annick Boudreau Mystery Series, Noonday Dark. I’m about halfway through it and I’m enjoying it a great deal, not just for the mystery at the heart of this book: the disappearance of a political campaign staffer, to the newly elected bike-riding mayor of Vancouver. Our hero, Dr. Boudreau, gets the call from police as to the missing Danielle, because she was her patient. She’d been treated for a major depressive episode but had been doing well. Dr. Boudreau sets out to find out what really happened, and joins, Danielle’s estranged father Ivor, a former radical journalist turned right-wing blogger. We’re drawn into the world of a motorcycle club, with a strong presence on the waterfront, who are confronted by the new mayor’s plan to reduce port traffic along the Knight Street, Clark Drive corridor. Mr. Demers in his writing, as usual, reflects the changing city, the intricacies of a metropolis, and tackles those usual questions of ownership; who does the city belong to? And who can change it? Charles Demers is an author, comedian, actor, playwright, screenwriter, and political activist. He is frequently heard on CBC Radio’s The Debaters. His 2009 book Vancouver Special, which he first appeared on this program with in 2010, was shortlisted for the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize. Other books include Property Values, The Horrors, and Primary Obsessions, the first in the Boudreau series, which like this new book is published by Douglas & McIntyre. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Charlie Demers; Mr. Demers, good morning. The post Charles Demers first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The award-winning New York cabaret and recording artist Jeff Harnar discusses his new album I Know Things Now: My Life in Sondheim’s Words (PS Classics, 2022), with Joseph Planta. Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. Jeff Harnar joins me now. The acclaimed, award-winning New York cabaret, concert and recording artist has a new album out in a couple of weeks, I Know Things Now: My Life in Sondheim’s Words. It’s a marvelous collection of the music and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim as performed by Mr. Harnar, who finds in a tapestry of twenty-five disparate songs in the Sondheim canon meaning and understanding about his life. I’ll ask Jeff about the genius of Sondheim’s music and lyrics, the lyrics especially, which after so long as a performer finally gave him the story of his own life. The songs are performed in pairings or groupings from different shows, and eras of Sondheim’s musicals, and they all speak universally, as well as more importantly, specifically to Jeff’s outlook on life, love and the pursuit of happiness. This all began as a one-man stage show that he performed, which was directed by the legendary actor and teacher Sondra Lee. This new album, expands and preserves a show that Sondheim not only saw, but endorsed and encouraged. The arrangements on the album are by Jeff Harnar and Jon Weber, who did also did the orchestrations. There’s a big 20 piece orchestra and it’s lush and rich accompanying Mr. Harner so beautifully. The album is from PS Classics, which releases the album 17 June 2022. Visit www.jeffharnar.com for more information, as there will be various tour dates in the United States in June and beyond. And www.psclassics.com is the website for more information on the album, like how to get it. Jeff Harnar was described by the New York Times as “the most important cabaret performer to emerge since Michael Feinstein.” He has won many awards like the MAC Award, from the Manhattan Association of Cabaret, I counted at least seven, as well as multiple Broadway World Cabaret awards, and the Bistro Award, several times over. He joined me from New York City last week. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Jeff Harnar; Mr. Harnar, good morning. The post Jeff Harnar first appeared on thecommentary.ca.

The award-winning director, playwright and actor Rod Carley discusses his new short story collection Grin Reaping (Latitude 46 Publishing, 2022), with Joseph Planta. Grin Reaping by Rod Carley (Latitude 46 Publishing, 2022). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Grin Reaping Text of introduction by Joseph Planta: I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca. Rod Carley joins me again. He’s got a new collection of short stories coming out in a couple of weeks, Grin Reaping. I’ve only started reading it, and it’s already funny. It’s described as a collection of humour, and that it is, but it also has a lot of heart. We meet the fictional Boyle family, first our central character Rudy Boyle, who is stuck in middle age and in the middle of his five siblings. They confront life and all that it entails, including getting older. There are fourteen interconnected stories and they reflecting what we’re all thinking about, life, mortality, gender, climate change, human nature, and the grief of losing family. The characters are rich and enjoyable to be around. I’ll get Rod to tell us about these stories, these characters, and the sort of life stuff he’s thinking about. Rod Carley was first on the program in 2020 upon the publication of his second novel Kinmount. It won the Silver Medal for Best Regional Fiction at the 2021 Independent Publishers Book Awards, and was one of ten books longlisted for the 2021 Leacock Medal for Humour. His first novel, A Matter of Will, was a finalist for the Northern Lit Award for Fiction. He is an alumnus of the Humber School for Writers and resides in North Bay, Ontario, where he joined me from this past weekend. His website is at www.rodcarley.ca. This new book is from Latitude 46 Publishing, and will be available 18 June 2022. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Rod Carley; Mr. Carley, good morning. The post Rod Carley first appeared on thecommentary.ca.