So Surreal: Behind the Masks

One of the most influential movements in the history of 20th-century art, surrealism was itself strongly influenced by Indigenous artists, creators and craftspeople who never gained the fame accorded Max Ernst and Joan Miró. Directors Neil Diamond and Joanne Robertson make it their mission to uncover the connections between the work of surrealist artists and the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw and Yup’ik ceremonial masks that ended up in studios, museums and collections far from their points of origin. But what might’ve been a dry lesson in art history becomes a lively, playful and thought-provoking documentary about the fascinating journeys that these masks wended through the art world and the contemporary efforts to return them to their rightful homes.

Director: Neil Diamond, Joanne Robertson

Cast: Neil Diamond, Chuna McIntyre

Language: English

Runtime: 88 minutes

Joanne Robertson, director

Joanne Robertson is a director, researcher, and creative producer with over 25 years of experience in documentary filmmaking. Beginning her career with Rezolution Pictures, she contributed to acclaimed projects such as Cree Spoken Here, Dab Iyiyuu, and One More River. She has since developed her expertise through diverse works, including the NFB’s Making Movie History, Ports d’attache, and Chacun son îler. Robertson co-produced Kara Blake’s installation Lasciare Suonare and Todd Stewart’s award-winning short animation The Wind and the Trees. Most recently, she co-directed So Surreal: Behind the Masks, exploring the impact of Indigenous masks on Surrealist art, which premiered on the West Coast at VIFF.

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