Protection (2000 film) explained

Protection
Director:Bruce Spangler
Producer:Erik Paulsson
Starring:Jillian Fargey
Nancy Sivak
William MacDonald
Music:Bruce Spangler
Cinematography:Brian Johnson
Editing:Michael Brockington
Luis Lam
Studio:Thoughtcrime Productions
Red Storm Productions
Runtime:77 minutes
Country:Canada
Language:English

Protection is a Canadian drama film, directed by Bruce Spangler and released in 2000.[1] The film stars Jillian Fargey as Betty, a drug addict from Surrey, British Columbia, whose fitness as a mother is being investigated by child protection officer Jane (Nancy Sivak) following suspicions that her boyfriend Joe (William MacDonald) may have been physically and sexually abusive to her children Cindy (Nicole LaPlaca) and Jimmy (Giacomo Baessato).[2]

Spangler, a former social worker, made the film to dramatize the moral complexities of the situations that social workers often face;[3] notably, Jane, the ostensible "hero" of the story, is also portrayed as a drug user.[2]

The film premiered at the Montreal World Film Festival in 2000.[4]

Fargey received a Genie Award nomination for Best Actress at the 22nd Genie Awards in 2001.[5] Sivak received a Vancouver Film Critics Circle award nomination for Best Actress in a Canadian Film at the Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards 2000, citing her performances in both Protection and No More Monkeys Jumpin' on the Bed.[6] The film received nine Leo Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor (MacDonald) and two nods for Best Actress (Spivak and Fargey).[7]

Notes and References

  1. "Film offers inside look at child protection". Victoria Times-Colonist, October 7, 2001.
  2. "No villains, no heroes". Vancouver Sun, June 8, 2001.
  3. "Unblinking look at broken lives: Social workers intervene in the lives of a Surrey family in the starkly realistic film Protection". The Province, June 8, 2001.
  4. "Vancouver movie takes on the biggies in Montreal". Cornwall Standard Freeholder, September 2, 2000.
  5. "Inuit film earns seven Genie nominations". Hamilton Spectator, December 13, 2001.
  6. "Vancouver film critics pick Quebec film Malestrom as best Canadian film". Canadian Press, February 14, 2001.
  7. "Leo nominations announced". Vancouver Sun, April 13, 2001.