Faculty of Art

Integrated Media

Hannah Cohen

Internationality

Short Documentary

“This film is an essay documentary in the form of a conversation between Hannah and Ella, who have been best friends for a decade. It concerns feeling like an outsider in your home versus being welcomed by a place you do not consider your own. Canadian is often portrayed as a “melting pot.” People come to this country bringing parts of their own culture with them and it ends up melting into “our” mass culture. People are meant to feel like this country is their home especially if they are white. POC in Canada must answer the question “where are you from” even if they were born here. If you don’t respond with a country outside of Canada you are then questioned about the lineage you are from. What they really want to know is “who made you look like this?”. How are you supposed to feel Canadian when constantly questioned about where you’re from? When people are letting you know that you are intruding and don’t look like them, and they are accepting white immigrants with no issue? With this being said I acknowledge there are first peoples here on turtle island. As stated by the city of Toronto government website “We are on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.”. Through conversation, Hannah and Ella will discuss their opposite, yet parallel, experiences of Canada as they have grown up together.”