Friday November 11, 6:45pm @ TIFF Bell Lightbox 350 King St West Reitman Square, Toronto, Ontario @ Rendezvous With Madness Film Festival
Lauren Parsekian, USA, 2010, 76 min, Beta sp, Canadian Premiere, English, Student Choice Award: Toronto International Film Festival, Sprockets, Rated PG
Finding Kind explores real life Mean Girls, which as it turns out at one time or another is all of the female population. Lauren Parsekian and Molly Thompson set out to create change by forming a kind movement visiting schools across the U.S. talking to girls about girl on girl bullying. Along the way they also stop in towns to ask the same questions to adults both male and female. What is it with girls and how they treat each other? Jealousy, competition and peer pressure seem to be a huge part of the problem. One man had the perfect analogy: Women are like kitty cats. I guess that’s where the term “catty” comes from in which women are often accused of being. Lauren and Molly meet young girls across the country who tell their heartbreaking stories of bullying, some during interviews while others via the truth booth set up at the schools.
From the road they see a group of bikers and think it’s a perfect opportunity to get the male point of view. The experience was a touching showcase of the brotherhood of men and in contrast the lack of sisterhood between women. While talking to women, they discover the issue is far from new and doesn’t really end as you get older. The film touches on the media’s responsibility with tv shows (The Hills, Real Housewives, Gossip Girl), Billboards, magazines, technology, internet, mobile devices, social media and beyond. There are images and messages damaging to self esteem everywhere. The kind movement is a work in progress, however, Lauren and Molly are making a difference and empowering girls to work towards a more accepting future. Finding Kind is a film and movement that will benefit women of all ages.
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