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Deep Dive: The Free Ones (2020)

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The Free Ones
The Free Ones is a Canadian documentary directed by Nicolas Lévesque, released in 2020. It presents the lives of several ex-convicts as they transition back into society, specifically focusing on their employment at a sawmill in Roberval, Quebec. This film is an expansion of Lévesque's 2015 short film Interview with a Free Man, which was recognized as one of Canada's Top Ten short films by the Toronto International Film Festival. The film premiered at the 2020 Montreal International Documentary Festival and received two nominations at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Editing. The documentary features interviews and personal stories of the men, providing insight into their experiences and efforts to reintegrate into the community after serving their sentences.

Why Watch

  • •Meet ex-convicts adjusting to life after prison.
  • •See how they work at a sawmill in Quebec.
  • •Find out about their personal stories and struggles.

Did You Know

•The Free Ones is directed by Nicolas Lévesque.
•The film premiered at the 2020 Montreal International Documentary Festival.
•It received two Canadian Screen Award nominations in 2021.
•The film is set in Roberval, Quebec, at a sawmill.
•The original short film was named one of Canada's Top Ten in 2015.

Perfect For

Documentary enthusiastsCriminal justice topicsStories of reintegration