Silence & Storm
Every summer, Camp Weredale, located in the Laurentian mountains north of Montreal, is home to "system kids," offering them a safe haven and a chance to heal lives scarred by abuse and neglect. Silence & Storm documents two months in the lives of ten kids at this unique summer camp. For some, it was an opportunity to re-learn their capacity to be kids and just play; for others, it was a chance to come to grips with the painful memories that haunt them. Despite backgrounds steeped in pain and disappointment, these young people were able to reveal themselves and express …
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Every summer, Camp Weredale, located in the Laurentian mountains north of Montreal, is home to "system kids," offering them a safe haven and a chance to heal lives scarred by abuse and neglect. Silence & Storm documents two months in the lives of ten kids at this unique summer camp. For some, it was an opportunity to re-learn their capacity to be kids and just play; for others, it was a chance to come to grips with the painful memories that haunt them. Despite backgrounds steeped in pain and disappointment, these young people were able to reveal themselves and express their hopes, fears, anger and loneliness. The result is a sensitive, revealing portrait of an unusual program for youth in care.
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directorJeremiah Hayes
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cameraJeremiah Hayes
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editingJeremiah Hayes
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sound editingJeremiah Hayes
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producerWolf KoenigDavid WilsonSally BochnerJudith Merritt
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executive producerColin NealeDon Haig
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soundZoe Kerrigan
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re-recordingLouis Hone
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musicLeon Aronson
Warnings: Swearing and offensive language throughout film (not censored), references to physical, sexual and drug abuse, suicide, gun violence, some fighting, smoking
What parts of the structure of this camp would be beneficial for these teens? What challenges might these teens in particular face in this type of environment? What can schools or institutions learn from this type of program about how to best support teens? Counsellor Sue says that if many of these kids were supported without judgement or forced expectations, they might not be diagnosed with the conditions they have been. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? This film was released in 1995. How might teenage life have changed since then? What unique challenges do teenagers face today?
