Synopsis
Can music play its role and facilitate discussions on interculturality?
Can music succeed in building bridges between communities?
The idea that music can be a tool for intercultural dialogue and the fight against racism is at the heart of the Mamu Ensemble Together project.
Creating spaces for sharing and discussion between musicians of diverse origins and citizens in rural areas seemed the ideal way to break down barriers and contribute to the meeting of cultures.
Filmed in Mani-utenam, on the North Shore in Quebec and in the Mauricie region in 2020, the documentary tells the journey of musicians from different cultural backgrounds who come together to share a message of hope and reflect on diversity, multiculturalism and the use of music as a tool for dialogue.
The documentary is somewhat of an overview to open up dialogue for more in-depth discussions such as:
- How to focus on the similarities as a step towards the “other” to deconstruct prejudices and to recognize the links that unite us all?
- Can art serve as a starting point to break the silence and speak openly?
- How to create bonds of trust in our relationships with others?
We hope that this documentary can be a prelude to a series of reflections and collective actions on cultural rapprochement.
Target audience: General public, high school, community centres and workshops
Screening options
Adults and teenagers
- Title: Mamu Ensemble Together
- Languages: French and English
- Length: 50 minutes
- Formats available: Digital Cinema Package (DCP), BluRay and MP4
- Five accompanying segments to documentary for workshops and discussions
- Languages: French and English
- Length: 20 to 40 seconds
- Available formats: Vimeo (with password) | MP4 | USB key
Discussion workshop on music as a tool for dialogue
- Languages: French and English
- Length: TBC | available late Spring 2022
- Available formats: Vimeo (with password) | MP4 | USB key
General public
- Title: Chompipa (storytelling and music)
- Languages: French & English
- Length: 9 minutes 36
- Available formats: Vimeo (with password) | MP4 | USB key
Children (6 to 11 years old)
- Title: Musical Journey (interaction of children with musicians from different cultural backgrounds)
- Languages: French and English
- Length: 14 minutes 09 | available late Summer 2022
- Available formats: Vimeo (with password) | MP4 | USB key
Resources available – Toolkit
Once your screening has been planned, La Boîte interculturelle will provide you with a link to a toolkit to help you prepare for your event.
The toolkit will include:
- Guide to preparing for your screening
- Teaser – Promo video
- Evaluation Form
- Poster (including social media format)
- Promotional pictures
- Authorization form to film (minors, adults and places) – if necessary
- List of questions to open the dialogue (post-viewing)
More resources will be added from time to time.
Schedule a screening
To schedule a screening of the documentary in your community, please complete this form.
If you would like more information, do not hesitate to contact us.
La Boîte interculturelle wishes to thank all her partners and the musicians who took part in this project:
[translation] The images speak for themselves and this is why listeners were able to fully understand the project’s message. Some were left in awe wishing to see a live performance of the project. Many constructive questions and comments continued to drive the dialogue about racism forward in the communities where we screened the documentary.
I also had the chance to share a bit of my personal migration story as well as tell a tale that puts the theme of racism in context. This enriching experience was filled with smiles and wonder.
Saulo Olmedo Evans
This is a compelling documentary with a big heart.
The filmmakers and the musicians travel with us through the North Shore of the St. Lawrence in Quebec and in the Mekinac region introducing us to the synthesis of their musical cultures. With their most inspiring music, we join them in their beautiful efforts to oppose racism and honour their diversity and our human bonds.
At the center of the film, the musicians meet with the children of Maliotenam and something magical happens. We see their natural curiosity, as the children and the musicians reach out to each other. The musical exchange, the people and the musicians are inspiring.
Through this documentary, we can see that we are all participants of the human journey.
Dr. Laura Sky, documentary filmmaker