Wikipedia article
'No Visible Trauma' is a 2020 Canadian documentary film, directed by Marc Serpa Francoeur and Robinder Uppal.[Norman Wilner, [https://www.straight.com/movies/viff-review-no-visible-trauma-documents-shocking-abuses-of-police-power-in-calgary "VIFF review: No Visible Trauma documents shocking abuses of police power in Calgary"]. 'The Georgia Straight', September 20, 2020.] The film documents several allegations of abuse of power against the Calgary Police.[Victoria Ahearn, [https://www.nsnews.com/these-kind-of-issues-are-out-here-new-doc-examines-police-violence-in-calgary-1.24167830 "'These kind of issues are out here': New doc examines police violence in Calgary"]. 'North Shore News', July 9, 2020.]
Synopsis
It centres on the cases of Godfred Addai-Nyamekye, a person of colour who was involuntarily transported to the city limits and left to freeze in below-zero weather after a routine traffic stop, and was eventually tasered and beaten by the police officer who responded after Addai-Nyamekye called 911;[Joel Dryden, [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/godfred-addai-nyamekye-calgary-alberta-black-lives-matter-1.5600715 "Six years after his violent arrest, Calgary man says he's still waiting for justice"]. CBC News Calgary, June 11, 2020.] Daniel Haworth, a man who suffered a permanent brain injury when he was thrown to the ground by the same police officer who had tasered Addai-Nyamekye, eventually contributing to Haworth's subsequent death of a drug overdose;[Meghan Grant, [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-police-trevor-lindsay-daniel-haworth-aggravated-assault-day-3-1.5137786 "Victim was never the same after suffering brain injury at hands of Calgary officer, assault trial hears"]. CBC News Calgary, May 15, 2019.] and Anthony Heffernan, a man who died after being shot four times by police on an apparently routine wellness check.[Meghan Grant and Robson Fletcher, [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/anthony-heffernan-calgary-police-shot-asirt-charges-1.3730911 "Calgary officer who fatally shot Anthony Heffernan won't be charged"]. CBC News, August 22, 2016.]
Critical reception
'Now' described the story telling as simple and direct and praised the documentary for avoiding stylistic drama and just telling the clear story of police abuse of power.
Television edit
A shorter edit of the film, titled 'Above the Law', aired on CBC Television in July 2020 as an episode of 'CBC Docs POV',[Norman Wilner, [https://www.straight.com/movies/review-cbcs-above-law-documents-shocking-abuses-of-police-power-in-calgary "Review: CBCs Above The Law documents shocking abuses of police power in Calgary"]. 'The Georgia Straight', July 10, 2020.] prior to the full film's theatrical premiere at the 2020 Vancouver International Film Festival.[Lauren Malyk, [https://playbackonline.ca/2020/09/03/loretta-todds-monkey-beach-to-open-vancouver-intl-film-festival/ "Loretta Todds Monkey Beach to open Vancouver Intl Film Festival"]. 'Playback', September 3, 2020.] 'Above the Law' received a nomination for the Donald Brittain Award at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards in 2021.[Brent Furdyk, [https://etcanada.com/news/762146/television-nominees-announced-for-2021-canadian-screen-awards-schitts-creek-leads-the-pack-with-21-nominations/ "Television Nominees Announced For 2021 Canadian Screen Awards, Schitts Creek Leads The Pack With 21 Nominations"]. 'ET Canada', March 30, 2021.]
See also
* Killing of Latjor Tuel
References
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