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In this moving short documentary, Leymo Mohammed, a 20-year-old student, filmmaker and aspiring actor on the autism spectrum, writes a heartfelt letter to his mother who died of COVID-19 in the early days of the pandemic. Narrating over animations and scenes from his life, Leymo updates his mother on the ups and downs of finding his place as a young Black man in Toronto. From the challenges of self-taping auditions and dealing with bullies, to looking after his sister, the importance of friends and the unexpected joy of attending prom, Leymo shares his story with openness, showing that he’s more than the labels so often imposed on him by the outside world. The Japanese Canadian filmmaker Randall Okita provides thoughtful direction to accompany Leymo’s writing and storytelling, allowing him to control his own narrative. The result is in an unusually original and touching coming-of-age story, dotted with poignant moments, that ultimately reflects its subject’s gentle spirit and optimism for the future.
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Film and visual culture
‘Bags here are rarely innocent’ – how filmmakers work around censorship in Iran
8 minutes
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Language and linguistics
Closed captions suck. Here’s one artist’s inventive project to make them better
8 minutes
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Architecture
The celebrated architect who took inspiration from sitting, waiting and contemplating
29 minutes
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Anthropology
Why are witchcraft accusations so common across human societies?
4 minutes
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Subcultures
Drop into London’s eclectic skate scene, where newbies and old-timers find community
5 minutes
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Technology and the self
A deepfake porn victim confronts the pain of having her likeness stolen and vandalised
19 minutes
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Wellbeing
Born in China, Zee seeks a gender-affirming life in the American Midwest
11 minutes
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Rituals and celebrations
A whale hunt is an act of prayer for an Inuit community north of the Arctic Circle
8 minutes
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Music
The peculiar beauty of a song caught between composition and improvisation
3 minutes