w0rd.ca

I recently had the pleasure to view a debut screening of a documentary by local Toronto director and friend, Julian Pinder. The film is called Land, and tells us an intimate story of recent neocolonial issues in Nicaraugua.  The film deals with themes of power and corruption, as former revolutionaries clash against gringo land developers from the north, vying to construct luxurious condominuims and hotels in a quiet town along the coast as they seek to transform it into the “Nicaraguan Riviera.”

But the tables turn, and the political battles that took place in the elections of 2006 bring about land reform and power is returned back to the people. But it is the corruption of this power that ironically renews itself in the hands of the Nicaraguan natives.

LAND trailer for feature documentary from Julian T. Pinder on Vimeo.

Power corrupts, and the 28 year old director captures the essence of this fact with some ballsy documentation and filming with almost no budget, yet with great ambition. This film has garnished rave reviews, including a rare 4/4 stars in the Globe and Mail. It screens this week on Wednesday the 9th at 9:00 p.m. and Thursday the 10th at 7:00 p.m., at The Royal Theater on College Street in Toronto. I highly recommend this film to anyone who supports Canadian film and for those of us who can appreciate relevant, provocative and informing media from an entrepreneur like Julian. With a potent mix of the eye opening truths that can be compared to those of Noam Chomsky,  and the raw vision of a budding new director, I too give this Canadian Doc a 4/4 stars. Big ups, yo.