Ayana O'Shun

In this film, Ayana O'Shun investigates the phenomenon of absent fathers in black communities, through her personal story and that of luminous and resilient women from Quebec and Guadeloupe.

The Myth of the Black Woman is a feature-length documentary that examines the imagery of black women in the media, from the 18th century black slave to Michelle Obama. It is an investigation into how stereotypes originate from slavery and still affect the lives of black women in Quebec. These stereotypes include Jezebel (the seductress, the femme fatale); Mammie (the obese woman, the asexual mother figure) and Sapphire (the angry, ambitious and arrogant black woman). This story will be told by black women on whom stereotypes have a high impact, through interviews with fascinating experts, and through archival footage from centuries past to the present.

Marie-Helene, a distinguished but neurotic woman, goes to her first appointment with a reputable psychologist. Wanting to prove that she doesn't really need a shrink, she ridicules everything inside the doctor's office. But soon, she goes from a sense of superiority to a total collapse in how others see her. It's clear - she'll have to spend a lot of time in the doctor's lazyboy.

Investigating slavery in Canada through the story of Marie-Josèphe Angélique, a Black slave accused of burning Montreal in 1734. After an epic trial, this untameable slave is tortured and sentenced to death. But was she really guilty of this crime or was she the victim of a bigger conspiracy? Why this voluntary amnesia about this unknown page of Canadian history?

This short documentary highlights how discrimination prevents foreign-trained doctors from practising in Canada – even after they've received their Canadian qualifications.