Controversial film coming to Kelowna on May 31

Here’s a group discussion that arose from a screening of this same film at Concordia.

The Kelowna Art Gallery and The Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies at UBC will present a film screening of Professor Norman Cornett: Since When Do We Divorce the Right Answer from an Honest Answer?
The documentary, by acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin, will show May 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the art gallery, located on Water Street.

Norman Cornett

The film will be followed by a discussion with the subject of this documentary, Professor Cornett.
 The film concerns the controversial dismissal of Professor Cornett.When he taught Religious Studies at McGill, his “dialogic” sessions introduced students to a remarkable assortment of artists and judges, Talmudic scholars and philosophers. Among his guest speakers: the former prime minister Paul Martin, jazzman Oliver Jones, modern dance artist and choreographer Mariko Tanabe, and Alanis Obomsawin, Canada’s leading Aboriginal filmmaker.Â
With her own keen interest in how society educates its young, in her film Obomsawin responds to McGill’s controversial 2007 dismissal of Cornett with a tribute to him. Taking the unusual step of turning her camera on a non-Native subject, she draws upon the energy of Cornett’s young supporters to reflect upon the virtues of an open mind and generous spirit.
For more than 40 years, Obomsawin has directed documentaries at the National Film Board with strong social content, inspired by the desire to let the voices of her people be heard.
The May 31 event is free and open to the public.