EDUCATION, n. That
which discloses to the wise and disguises from the foolish their lack of
understanding.
—Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary
The state of Canada's
university life and the attendant debate of higher education versus
hire/education is so vividly captured in John Zaritsky's College Days,
College Nights that it should form the core curriculum of both those
contemplating enrolment and—whether, family, spouses or governments—those who must pay the freight.
Set during the 2003-2004
academic year on the spectacular University of British Columbia campus, the
six-hour, three-part documentary employs the talents of professional and intern
filmmakers including sixteen undergraduates who have courageously captured their
personal observations, feelings and fears via frequent entries into their
video diaries. Then, through the miracle of Stuart de Jong's editing and
Zaritsky's near-perfect instinct for time, tone and story, all manner of
truth—intended or gleaned—spills onto the screen in a seemingly endless tide of revelation.
In Episode I ("It Almost
Feels Okay") we meet people at risk. 20-year-old Jayme (2nd Year Arts) admits that his laziness isn't a hit at home so after "we had a
little talk" moves onto campus where he's perfectly free to make his own rules. 18-year-old Leila (1st year Nursing) also moves out from home but soon desperately misses her friends and family.
Perennial second-place
finisher Spencer (3rd year Political Science) 20 years old but "born at 45" is
obsessed with achieving some kind of political victory, be it one of the many
debates he enters or taking his best shot and running as an independent
candidate for the student council executive.
Howie, fresh from his
success as valedictorian at his high school graduation, quickly discovers that
his first-year science program is far more difficult than he'd imagined. He sinks from top dog to near failure, but bravely shares his fears with
candour, a few tears, and defeatism "I'm pretty sure I'm going to fail."
Mixed-race Surina
(Chinese/Scottish-Irish) starts off her final year commerce degree by
simultaneously losing her boyfriend but winning the inter-squad long-boat
race.
Throughout it all, the
reality of their personal and scholastic challenges rings true with a simple
honesty that so-called reality shows can never hope to provide. Often
times the worst news—"Howie received an F," or Jayme getting dumped—is
discreetly shared by caption, giving the viewer the required information yet
allowing the "victim" to retain his or her dignity.
Other expected issues
(excessive drinking, relationship roulette and constant fatigue) bind the troupe
together whether or not they have direct interaction with one another. In all three segments, final exams bring down the curtain on the subjects
as everyone (viewers included) realize just how far they've grown over the year,
but in ways and places miles away from mere marks.
The second episode, "Between Past and Present Tense," is the pick of the litter soaring from its
opening frames—literally, as 22-year-old Byron ("I'm a banana: yellow on the outside, white on the inside") bungee jumps bare-assed to the graduation
sequence fuelled more by Family Ties than fraternity follies.
Not everybody makes it. Millennium scholarship recipient, Christy, votes herself off the island to
pursue an acting career in Toronto rather than wait for an audition that never
materializes in Vancouver. Having worked out her path (get a degree as a
safety net; act on the side) with her father, she seems unable to follow his
guidance. His early death before first year arts began left their
long-anticipated Whistler ski trips as distant as a call back.
In his final year of
Human Geography, 23-year-old Tejas struggles to survive emotionally. With
his father living in Singapore and mother in India, he has no immediate family
to counsel, comfort or console. Like countless others, he unknowingly
slips into depression and fights for his very existence—alone.
Singaporean 2nd year arts student, Gideon is as nervous as Howie but, at least has his family
living with him. His father is also enrolled as a pastoral student. Gideon is elated when his dad finally takes him on as a disciple only to be
abandoned when the family's time is up and they return to Asia. Yet their
departure empowers the anxious scholar to come out of his shell and, in a
wonderful balance to Byron's naked leap for attention, hurls himself out of a
plane—without a cord—gliding fully covered to the safety of earth. Certainly his father's advice was heeded in that effort: "Be careful in your
choice, but don't turn back ... if fickle-minded you will go nowhere."
By the time the report
cards are in, Byron has survived his father's scorn of his Mohawk cut (complete
with war paint in a vain effort to pick up girls at his frat party), bought an
expensive suit to impress others ("felt like a man of power, like I was going
somewhere") and finally costumes himself in the graduation gown, which "helps
reaffirm my father's belief that I will be a success!"
When Mia's parents
divorce, following a thirty-year marriage, the 19-year-old 2nd year
arts student soon discovers that their roles have reversed: her parents
need her support and acceptance even as she realizes that her father "has his
faults." Soon she's dropped a couple of courses, but finds her niche
through involvement as a Liberal supporter in the federal election campaign.
"Why Am I Doing
This?"—the series finale—is the weakest of the three. Similar to Coach
Carter's (cross-reference below) theme of overcoming adversity (in
this case a nagging back injury) to win, 3rd year human kinetics
student Sheila's sojourn from injury in Korea to the CIS national crown in
Manitoba, spends too much time on the basketball court depriving the other
stories of the same kind of depth as their predecessors. One wonders if
UBC had lost whether the allocation of airtime would have been different.
Still, 2nd year arts
Lenny's drinking binges, poker games and attempts at his own rehabilitation ("I
pretty much leave [partying] to the weekends") is compelling in its honesty. Closet alcoholics everywhere will take comfort in hearing and seeing one of
their own throw-up on cue but also make the grade.
Josh's naïveté about
both his musical ability and breaking into the music business lends an air of
credibility to the thousands of garage-band members worldwide. Like this
19-year-old 2nd year arts major, they will identify with—finally—winning the "Battle of the
Bands," then preparing to take their shot at fame and riches, only to have the
lead singer move to Germany. On to the next!
But the real star is
Michelle, who at 25 in her final year of psychology is living off-campus with
Libby, her guide dog. Unlike many of her colleagues, she has a partner
that is always there for her, loves and protects her and is happy in her
devotion. But the trusty canine doesn't give her a hug. Michelle is
philosophical about her lack of dates: "People have to grow up a bit
before they notice you [with] a disability." To compensate she volunteers,
working with visually impaired seniors and children. At the completion of
her studies, she opts to skip graduation and go horseback riding because during
those years "I haven't made an impact on one soul," perhaps not realizing the
effect her statement of despair will have on millions of others who embrace the
norm and shun the unfamiliar.
Therein lies
the brilliance of Zaritsky's work: Whether student, parent, or professor,
viewers will inevitably find some parts of themselves. But will they be
able to admit which ones are them? JWR