FutuRéale Magazine

Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival is North America's largest documentary festival. Each year, the festival presents a selection of more than 100 cutting-edge documentaries from Canada and around the globe. Through its industry programmes, the Festival also provides a full range of professional development, market and networking opportunities for documentary professionals.

Emoticons
Screening: Friday April 18 @ 7:15 & Saturday April 19@ Noon-ROM
Reviewed By: Kait Fowlie

Emoticons, directed by Heddy Honigmann, presents an objective picture of six young women's lives lived mostly through the internet. This documentary is interesting and relevant as a study not only on today's methods of social interaction, but today's youth.

To the women represented in the film, the internet provides more than just another means of communication. For the most part, it is their only window to the world. The viewer is made to see what an important outlet this medium can provide for friendship, personal growth and success. As young women, we are very aware of the ample hazards of the web, but the media is reluctant to let us know how fruitful the internet can be as a channel to meet others like ourselves. Emoticons is a testament of relationships formed online, for better or worse.

The most interesting thing about Emoticons is that it doesn't take a stance on whether or not making friends online is right or wrong. It doesn't judge. With this, it sends out the strong message of live and let live. Or live and learn, when applied to the story of a 17 year old girl, Samantha. Like the other girls interviewed, she was bullied in high school, which led her to delve into the anonymous shadows of the net. She began to participate in impersonal chat rooms in attempts to form better friendships.

Samantha is now the facilitator of an open discussion web forum for girls - love.students.com, which is an avenue for expression in the form of poetry, fiction, songs, questions that students may have about love. It helps Samantha to help other girls. Samantha takes part in this documentary and her family speaks out about her low points from the experience.

Emoticons presents an effective account of friendship, and would be enjoyed by any person who has ever retreated into themselves by plugging into the internet. I think there is an element we could all relate to in this film.