MovieChat Forums > 51 Birch Street (2006) Discussion > A message from director Doug Block

A message from director Doug Block

posted 18 years ago by doug-419
12 replies | jump to latest

Thanks to all of you for voting and many thanks for the great response.

If you were moved by the story of 51 Birch Street, you should know that the films' website has a special section where you can share your own story about your relationship with one or both of your parents. We especially want to know if there was a particular moment where you had a significant breakthrough in the relationship, and how that came about.

I've learned firsthand that audience members find 51 Birch Street a great icebreaker for conversations about their own parents, and the website is a really helpful and inspiring way to keep the discussions going. When it comes to our parents, EVERYONE has a profound story, it seems.

On the website, you can also find more info about the film, listings of upcoming screenings, view the trailer, sign up for our email list, and all sorts of other goodies. And if you're really clever, you can even figure out how to contact Yours Truly directly ;-)

Just go to: www.51BirchStreet.com

And please pass the word on about the film... and the website. Thanks.

Doug

[–] jstaplet 17 years ago

When is the DVD release date?

[–] wreckage-1 17 years ago

it's playing on the CBC right now... so I would guess that if there were plans to release it on dvd, it must already be out

[–] maratshadey 17 years ago

Just saw the film tonight in the UK. Brilliant.

THANK YOU, Doug! Very courageous film to make and a great piece of film-making.

[–] smokinbill 17 years ago

Hey Doug,
I just witnessed a marvelous piece of film making, and a true testament to the human spirit. I truly loved your film, and am thankful that you were courageous enough to make it.
It actually aired in Australia tonight, and it just so happened to be my night off. I truly didn't realize what a treat i would be in for. But thankfully something tasteful and profound was on.
I was particularly interested in our mother. She seemed extremely strong and intelligent, a really beautiful human being.
Thanks a lot, keep at it.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] a-novotny 17 years ago

I lived in the US for twenty years, moved back to Canada and thought the same as igor35. Within the year I realised the reason I thought the CBC had become a "leftist propaganda machine" was because I was seeing news coverage of more than one side of a conflict and/or issue, for the first time in two decades. I had thought I was aware how one-sided US news coverage was but until I had the pleasure of experiencing the CBC again, I had no idea how unbiased news coverage can be.

To each his and her own on the CBC; however, perhaps igor35 can enlighten us as to which other stations might have already aired this film? Is there perhaps a "fascist propaganda machine" that also aired 51 Birch Street, or is it only "leftist propaganda machines" that air documentaries that enlighten and broaden the human experience?

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] groggo 16 years ago

I laughed out loud at your description of the CBC as some kind of propaganda machine for the left or maybe commies in general. Comparable to Soviet state television? Egads.

When I hear astonishing comments like this, I often wonder (a) how you define 'leftist'; and (b) what you think a 'balanced, non-partisan' network is; Fox News?

The CBC has been under bombardment over the past 10 or 12 years for offering sub-par programming, and departing from the 'omnibus' commentary it used to offer in the '80s and early 90s, when you would see heavy-duty capitalists and strident right-wingers back-to-back with people like Noam Chomsky. THAT is balanced journalism in my view. You don't see Chomsky or any other GENUINE leftist on the CBC any more. The CBC has become decidedly more commercial and 'mainstream,' much to the consternation of many Canadians.

In the past, the CBC's greatest 'leftist' crime has been to offer 'alternative' points of view that would rarely, if EVER, be seen on the American networks. Many Canadians applauded this. If you believed in offering all points of view in a reasonably balanced format, how could you NOT applaud it?

The CBC a leftist propaganda machine? Wait'll I tell my friends. It's long been quite obvious here in Canada that the the CBC has abandoned its original mandate and turned into just another predictable American-style mouthpiece for the status quo.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] SENTIMENTAL17 16 years ago

Thank you for sharing your family with all of us. I have told my brothers and sister about this film AND my mother. I think my mother will recognize bits of herself, comparatively with your mother, and reflect on the time in which they both married and raised a family. Your sister said the same thing I have said about my mother, that she was born too soon and would have been much happier during my generation than her own. We grew up in the New York suburbs of Stamford, Connecticut during the same time period and I was touched by many similarities in the family dynamics. But also from a sociological point of view, your film speaks volumns of the individual roles that mothers and fathers were expected to play. I anticipate some lively family discussions once my mother, brothers and step-sister see your thought-provoking film.
Dawn

[–] shoyt_2001 15 years ago

Doug, I loved this movie. I just finished watching it and it is great.

In the end, I would say that you did your family a great favor.