Air India documentary moves audience to tears

Tag : Documentary Bag

Hayer said the 96-minute film was the "best documentary I have everseen" and he thinks it should be mandatory in all B.C. schools sothat the sordid chapter in Canadian history that cost 331 lives isnever forgotten.
While the film had already been shown at the Toronto Hot Docsfestival in April and is due to air commercial-free on CBC on June22, Gunnarsson said it was important to screen the documentary inVancouver - "ground zero" for the terrorist plot hatched in B.C. 23years ago.
Martine Donahue, who took the original telephone bookings for thetargeted flights when she was a CP ticket agent, said the filmshows the human side of the tragedy more than anything.
Jeanne Bakermans, who unknowingly checked in the bomb-laden bag atVancouver International Airport, said she had to pull a box ofKleenex out during the film.
"Everything about it was really, really good," Bakermans said. "Itwas just so hard on the families."
Many of those who lost loved ones and poured their hearts out forthe film were in the room watching Saturday.
Perviz Madon, who lost husband Sam in the bombing, said the moviewill "make it real" for all Canadians who watch it.
"I thought the movie was very powerful. I am moved by it. Hopefullyit will bring to the forefront our issues for the past 23 years,"Madon said.
Retired RCMP Sgt. John Schneider first worked on the Air India fileright after the bombing in 1985. He later headed the Air India TaskForce that brought Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri totrial. Both were later acquitted.
Schneider brought his wife and daughter to see the film in which heexplains the difficulties of advancing the investigation ofCanada's worst terrorist attack.
"I thought it was an excellent documentary. It was very factual,particularly about what the investigative agencies did and thesuffering of the families," Schneider said. "The impact on thegeneral public is going to be dynamite."
Gunnarsson, who I helped with some of his early research for thefilm, wants his work, to get the Air India bombing recognized asthe devastating Canadian tragedy that it was.
He acknowledged the help of families who were willing to tell theirstories to him. He also praised Sikh moderates, many of whom werein attendance, for fighting on the front-line in the fight againstreligious extremism in Canada.
Several watching the film, like Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh and RossStreet Sikh Temple president Kashmir Singh Dhaliwal, have continuedto receive threats for speaking out.
Dhaliwal said Air India 182 "is the most excellent documentary Ihave ever seen in my life."
"We are going to advertise it from the stage at the temple," hesaid. "And we will continue our struggle."