Status Quo? The Unfinished Business of Feminism in Canada

by Karen Cho

A sweeping, invigorating and disconcerting doc on the state of feminism, the herstory of the women's movement, & the status of women in Canada.

2012 · 1h27m · Canada

English

About the Film

Feminism has shaped the society we live in. But just how far has it brought us, and how relevant is it today? Status Quo? asks these questions and uncovers provocative – at times shocking – answers about the evolution of women’s equality in Canada. Interweaving a wealth of dynamic archival material with startling contemporary stories, the film situates the vibrant Canadian women’s movement in its history-making context. In 1967 the landmark Toyal Commission on the Status of Women made recommendations to address the inequalities faced by women. Now, Status Quo? zeroes in on key concerns such as violence against women, access to abortion, and universal childcare, asking how much progress we have truly made on these issues. Status Quo? is crucial viewing for every Canadian, especially those unfamiliar with the vital achievements of the feminist movement. This striking, in-depth documentary pays homage to Canada’s feminist forerunners and raises important questions about where and how we should move on from here.

Screenings of this film have been made possible thanks to the National Film Board of Canada.

Upcoming Screenings

Stay tuned for upcoming screenings!

Festivals and Awards

2012

Whistler Film Festival, Winner: Best Documentary

2012

ReFrame: Peterborough International Film Festival, Official Selection

In the Press

Review

CBC

Review

The Globe and Mail

The Globe and Mail

Editor

Barbara Brown

Cinematographer

Katerine Giguère

Producer

Ravida Din

Sound Editor

Benoît Dame

Soundtrack Composer

Lorraine Segato

Research

Karen Cho, Stefanie Brantner and Sarah Gilbert

Writer

Karen Cho

Film Related

About the Director

Karen Cho

Official Website

Karen Cho is a Chinese-Canadian filmmaker most known for her compelling and socially-engaged documentaries. Interested in using documentary as a tool for social change, Karen’s films explore untold histories and themes of immigration, activism and social justice.

Karen has directed the award winning In the Shadow of Gold Mountain (2004) a documentary about the legacy of the Chinese Head Tax and Exclusion Act and the Gemini-Nominated Seeking Refuge (Terre d’asile) (2009) a film that tells the story of five asylum seekers in Canada. Her most recent film, Status Quo? The Unfinished Business of Feminism in Canada (2012) won the Whistler Film Festival’s World Documentary Award and was launched in over 67 community screenings across the country.

Karen is currently in postproduction on an experimental docu-fiction about family secrets and cooking up her next batch of cultural subversion.

Official Website

Other films by Karen Cho