Student Film: Censored and Banned
May 13th, 2007 posted by WillsMomSuicide is a difficult topic; one that gets hushed up quick even when tackled by adults.
This time, 12th grade Brendan Prost and over 30 Bishop Grandin High School students worked to create the story behind an unknown suicide and then flashes back.
Prost’s premise is a sound one. The one hour film opens with the suicide, but the identity of the student is left unknown. The film then backtracks to the previous 3 days following the lives of 5 different students – any of which could have been the suicide. The film opens up questions and leaves it to the audience to come up with the answers.
“You can’t hide this subject from kids. You can’t blind them to it and hope it will go away. It’s a very relevant and modern issue. It’s insulting to our intelligence to try to hide it from us,” said Brendan.
Yet that’s exactly what the school is trying to do.
District spokeswoman Tania Younker explained the concern over the film was the presentation. She cited that in the film, none of the students sought any kind of help or services. She also mentions the use of profanity and the graphic display of the suicide.
“The district certainly doesn’t turn a blind eye to these types of issues. It definitely has preferred ways of communicating important messages to the students,” said Younker.
Of course, the film would have a wonderful role of opening the door to communication. And let’s face it, suicide is never pretty. And those that seriously contemplate suicide aren’t the type to go knocking on doors asking for help. This film could be the spring board to getting help for those that may be entertaining the notion of ultimate permanent escape.
Source: http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=371c2b28-86f3-40b2-8a55-3f663f546c1f&k=26204
May 14th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
The kids should be commended. When I attended Bishop Grandin many years ago the school was a cesspool.