Essence
Catalogue Number: IDO000
Producer: Ivan D. Ossa
Producers: Aristocrat, Gloria
Directors: Ossa, Ivan D.
Subject: Citizenship Education, Civics, Diversity, Guidance, Health, Social Issues, Social Sciences
Language: English
Grade Level: 9 - 12, Post Secondary, Adult
Country Of Origin: Canada
Copyright Year: 2019
Running Time: 10:04
This short film from emerging filmmaker Ivan D. Ossa follows Nathanial. Giving into peer pressure and trying to fit in with the boys of his neighbourhood, he is coerced into going along with a plan to enter an older man’s home to steal. Once there, the man tells him a story about the importance of owning one's name. In that moment, Nathanial realizes that he hasn't been living up to his given name. The director leaves us to decide - does Nathanial return the stolen goods thus honouring and reclaiming his name or does he steal them and disown his name?
From Ivan D. Ossa, an award winning Black Film Director, Writer and Actor based in Toronto, Ontario and originally from Cameroon.
Official Selection of the 2021 Toronto Black Film Festival
Semi-Finalist of the 2020 Ontario International Film Festival
Official Selection of the 2020 Montreal International Black Film Festival
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