Filmmaker Erik Paulsson will host the Coast premiere of his latest documentary, The Edge of the World: BC's Early Years, this Sunday in Gibsons.
The film brings together 20 stories that chronicle the events, people and places that shaped British Columbia's early history. It doesn't shy away from describing the role of the First Nations, the desperate gold seekers, Chinese railway workers and the heroic women of the frontier - characters often left out of history books.
The documentary was produced in association with the Knowledge Network and in partnership with the Royal BC Museum.
"Knowledge approached me to do this project almost two years ago," Paulsson said. "I told them that my version of history would include some of the darker chapters."
Paulsson's father was a historian who delved into Holocaust history. "I like to tell the real history," Paulsson says, "and that includes the blemishes and the tragedies."
He points out that early BC history covers a time of greed when workers were exploited as, for example, in the unsafe mining conditions that resulted in the Nanaimo coal disaster. The Edge of the World runs 50 minutes and is presented as 20 such stories. The vignettes include Finding Freedom: Blacks in BC that recounts the invitation of Governor James Douglas to American slaves to make their homes in this province. The stories continue with The Angel of Cassiar, a determined woman who made a gruelling trip to bring supplies to starving prospectors, and The Birth of Vancouver that tells how Gassy Jack got his name. The Banning of the Potlatch tells of the underground survival of this important First Nations ceremony, and the segment on Barkerville recaps the amazing luck of Billy Barker who found gold in the Cariboo but died a pauper.
Following the screening of The Edge of the World will be a presentation of Paulsson's first documentary made 10 years ago, Island of Shadows. Narrated by Sook-Yin Lee, this Gemini award-winning documentary tells, through dramatic re-creations, the story of the D'Arcy Island leper colony. Between 1891 and 1924, the tiny Gulf Island was prison to a handful of predominantly Chinese men and one woman who were banished there to die.
"I've always believed that learning about our history is a way to gain an understanding of how we came to be," Paulsson said.
Both films were written, produced and directed by Paulsson, a 20-year veteran of filmmaking. Through his company, Red Productions, he has also acted as producer for numerous award-winning films including Eve & the Fire Horse (Winner - Sundance Special Jury Prize), Army of One (Winner - Best Feature Documentary at Hot Docs) and Island of Shadows (Winner - Gemini Award and three Leo Awards, including best director).
The screening and discussion with the filmmaker is on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons, presented by Black Cat Cinema. Tickets are $8, available at Gaia's Fair Trade Gifts in Gibsons, WindSong Gallery in Sechelt and at the door.
