An animated vignette built on dreams and visions for the nation of Canada.

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Review by Julie Sheppard:

Healing for the Nations is a captivating animated short that uses striking imagery to encapsulate the heartbeat of Canada. It does an excellent job contrasting Canada’s natural landscape with symbols of its industry: dynamic pencil drawings move across the screen at a rapid pace moving from frozen tundra and rocky shores to farming equipment, fishing boats, oil rigs and skyscrapers, kayak transportation in the north and a breathtaking caribou hunt. 

The talent of the animator, Christopher Angus, is crystal clear. He deftly uses soft pencil crayon and watercolours and prominent black outlines to create a whole host of icons, often associated with Canada, as well as dizzying rotating maps. The sound scape is riveting, moving listeners everywhere, from freezing winds to sounds of city traffic. 

The upbeat coastal fiddle music, indigenous percussion, and bagpipes reveal the many cultures in Canada. This is complemented by the sewing of a blanket of international flags supported by two courageous Indigenous chieftains. At times wistful, given the fact that Canada is indeed in need of healing, the film ends with a rather optimistic outlook. Perhaps the hope is that Canada’s heart will be sown together because of, and not in spite of, its multicultural nature.