Maya & Samar: Movie Review

Queer love meets cultural boundaries.

Maya & Samar is a Canadian-Greek movie telling the tale of a Canadian journalist and an Afghan stripper. Maya (Nicolette Pearse), is a young sex-positive journalist from Toronto. Her pieces tend to center around women and social causes, and she lives her life very in the moment, whatever drug or party she fancies at the time. She’s supposed to be on vacation, even hangs up on her boss since she intends to not work, but her work finds a way to always be involved.		2025 Directed by: Anita Doron Screenplay by: Tamara Berger Starring: Nicolette Pearse, Amanda Babaei Vieira

Hair of the Bear: Movie Review

A story of self-survival with extreme violence.

Tori (Malia Baker), a teenager dealing with past trauma and mental health issues, is being driven by her mother to her grandfather’s remote cabin. Tori can’t handle school, her mother can’t handle her, so she’s off to live with grandfather in the woods of Manitoba where hopefully she can learn any type of life skill. Grandfather Ben (Roy Dupuis) is a fantastic character. He’s not just a gruff older conservative, he’s also patient and empathetic. The perfect combination of self-sufficient and understanding.		2025 Directed by: James McLellan, Alexandre Trudeau Screenplay by: Alexandre Trudeau, James McLellan Starring: Malia Baker, Roy Dupuis

Nika & Madison: Movie Review

Two women take on the racist law enforcement.

Nika & Madison, two cousins and former best friends from the First Nations reserve, are brought back together when Madison is sexually assaulted by a white cop and Nika comes to her rescue, only for the two to have to go on the run when they realize their word means nothing with the entire system rigged against them. It’s a drama about racial injustices and how many women are suffering on their own.		2025 Directed by: Eva Thomas Screenplay by: Michael McGowan, Eva Thomas Starring: Ellyn Jade, Star Slade