Healthy masculinity. It’s only two short words, however it stirs up a great deal of discussion when describing men attempting to break free from toxic, generational assumptions.
One thing is certain. One size shoe does not fit all. Discovering healthy masculinity comes in many forms. Toronto director Chrisann Hessing explores and challenges traditional views of masculinity in her new documentary, We Will Be Brave.
Through the City of St. Albert, the Arden Theatre plans to screen We Will Be Brave on March 12. The screening is an extended learning tool to the city’s two men’s support programs, Menship and Anchor.
The 80-minute documentary revolves around the Good Guise Collective, a group of racialized men, non-binary persons and LGBTQ+ men in Toronto who use art as springboard to healthy conversations about masculinity.
Hessing first dipped her toe into questions about healthy masculinity after attending a spoken word exposition where she heard a black man on stage openly discuss his vulnerabilities.
“I was moved. The entire audience was moved. This came on the heels of the #MeToo movement. I come from a place of curiosity as to what masculinity means and I wanted to unpack that,” said Hessing.
She met representatives of Good Guise Collective and received permission to film their meetings and activities. She witnessed how the men wore masks often dictated by society and saw first-hand how the program encouraged them to dismantle walls preventing healing
“Men don’t talk about their feelings. They’re never encouraged to share how they feel. I grew up in a South Asian household and we had strict gender roles where men didn’t show emotion. How do you get people to open up when they’re never given a chance?” Hessing asked.
She committed to the project in 2020 just prior to pandemic distancing and did not complete filming until 2023. The Good Guise Collective offered a place for candid discussions and personal support minus the guilt and shame. It created a space where men could be comfortable in their own skin.
“It shows the power of healing in a community. Lately we've seen more pushes towards a slow-living movement and art therapy. The one thing that resonates is their shared experiences and how they did not have to go through things on their own. It was meaningful to witness their commitment to healing."
Tuval Nafshi, a gender-based violence coordinator for the City of St. Albert and proponent of men’s wellness and healthy masculinity, was instrumental in bringing We Will Be Brave to the Arden.
“You see people who have conversations about where they are and you hear vulnerable talk about what they did to themselves and others. But it’s with the understanding we all have the capacity to do harm,” said Nafshi. “It’s an antidote to shame and punishment, but it’s also not letting people off the hook.”
He has led programs for boys and men and repeatedly sees males who feel they face the world alone.
“Boys are told to limit the emotions and vulnerabilities and that can create barriers to dealing with emotions. For instance, men are over-represented in addiction and suicide."
For Nafshi, the documentary notes there are many different types of men.
“There are amazing conversations about what is unique and distinct. It’s not preachy. It shows people’s journeys, and it allows us to question and think.”
A panel discussion with guests Jesse Howard, Joseph Luri and Jeremiah Levine follow the film screening.
The documentary starts at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12. The screening and popcorn is free and open to everyone.
