(of)fences / huis clos(tures)

Directed by b. h. Yael, 2002

Film length: 5:30 min, English

French version is titled huis clos(tures), 2001

Premiered at Innis Town Hall

In the context of the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City, in April 2000, a group of filmmakers and video artists came together to consider the repercussions of Free Trade and to collaborate on a project that resulted in “Blah, Blah, Blah. (Re)Viewing Quebec.”  (of)fences was made for this compilation. 

This impressionistic documentation is located at the perimeter of the very long fence that surrounded the conference grounds, holding in the leaders and holding out the voices and bodies of the protesters.  The fence disallowed, precluded, protected, imposed...... the offences of silence. (of)fences addresses the protesters and is a meditation on the reasons people came to speak in Quebec, listing the issues at stake for leadership, democracy, workers, the earth and other aspects of their lives.

They say to themselves,  'Let's go spend the weekend in Quebec City, we'll have fun, we'll protest and blah, blah, blah."

Jean Chrétien, Le Devoir, April 14, 2001

3.8 km of fence, 30,000 peaceful protests, 4,700 cans of tear gas, and 6,000 cop crotches.

Fourteen film and video artists respond to the Summit of the Americas held in Quebéc City, in April, 2001.

All proceeds from the blah blah blah show went to the Quebéc Legal Defence Fund.

The reasons for protester action and the antipathy to walls and fences remain political urgencies today.

Art for Glob

by Richard Fung