Celebrate National Poetry Month

Poets on Film (Ages 12+)

“To be an artist means to never avert one’s eyes” – Akira Kurosawa. Former governor general Adrienne Clarkson references this quote to describe author Margaret Atwood’s ability to look at all the details, from the most horrible to the most beautiful. Through the films in this playlist, viewers can study the lives and work of literary icons such as Atwood and Leonard Cohen, whose writings have been translated for international audiences, and artists such as Francine Valentine, an observant 12-year-old poet and student whose powerful voice shines a light on the transformation of her community housing complex.