1999 (2017)

1999 (2017) poster

In the late 1990s, Moncton's Acadian community was forever marked when death struck an high school. In a sweet impressionist film, Samara returns to the city she fled as a teenager to immerse herself in memories that are still buried there, in various places and in dusty boxes containing diaries, photos and VHS tapes. 1999 is not a ghost story, although it is populated by ghosts. The snow-covered streets, corridors and locker rooms of the school are intact, as in a dream, but the absence left by the wave of teenage suicides still resonates with unanswered questions, trauma and regret. Samara meets inspiring people who carry with them great pain and who, 16 years later, can finally comfort each other by breaking a long silence. In the end, the film interweaves different voices and gives rise to a collective reflection on the internalization of mourning and the need to learn to affirm one's desire to survive.

Director: Samara Grace Chadwick
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 90 min
Release Date:

Screenplay

Production: Parábola Filmes, ONF | NFB, Beauvoir Films
Country: Canada, Switzerland
Language: English, Français
Original Language: fr

Keywords

high school, suicide, teen suicide, woman director

More Films by Director: Samara Grace Chadwick
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 1999 about?
In the late 1990s, Moncton's Acadian community was forever marked when death struck an high school. In a sweet impressionist film, Samara returns to the city she fled as a teenager to immerse herself in memories that are still buried there, in various places and in dusty boxes containing diaries, photos and VHS tapes. 1999 is not a ghost story, although it is populated by ghosts. The snow-covered streets, corridors and locker rooms of the school are intact, as in a dream, but the absence left by the wave of teenage suicides still resonates with unanswered questions, trauma and regret. Samara meets inspiring people who carry with them great pain and who, 16 years later, can finally comfort each other by breaking a long silence. In the end, the film interweaves different voices and gives rise to a collective reflection on the internalization of mourning and the need to learn to affirm one's desire to survive.
Who directed 1999?
1999 was directed by Samara Grace Chadwick.
How long is 1999?
1999 has a runtime of 1h 30m (90 minutes).
What genre is 1999?
1999 is a Documentary film.
Where was 1999 produced?
1999 was produced in Canada, Switzerland.