School of Secrets

Is there something wrong with the B.C. educational system?  The documentary by Vancouver filmmakers Melanie Wood and Eunice Lee, School of Secrets tells a disturbing story of sex and deception over the span of thirty years.  The captivating film documents the rise and fall of Vancouver Prince of Wales high school teacher Tom Ellison and the teenage girls he seduced during his tenure. A secret hidden behind shame and guilt, it's a story that, when finally exposed, stunned not only the community, but also the theatre audience.   Watching the film, it was eerie to hear moans of disapproval echoing among the enraged audience.

Warrior Boyz examines the challenges that South Asian youth are facing today, particularly gang culture.  In British Columbia alone, more than a hundred Indo-Canadian youth have been killed as a result of gang violence with most of the victims coming from middle class families within a tight knit community. Warrior Boyz follows three Indo-Canadian youths in a Surrey high school (Princess Margaret Secondary), and documents their experiences with racism and violence in a seemingly calm suburban lifestyle. 

At the end of both movies, the producers and director all fielded questions from the audience in what capped off two powerful movies of our city -- whether it is fair or not is another question.  What about our high schools?   Let's not go there.