Hye’s Musings

Film Spotlight: YOUNGBLOOD with actor Alexandra McDonald

Youngblood is a modern reimagining of the 1986 hockey film, a thoughtful and hard-hitting take on masculinity, race, and resilience within the sport. I speak with East Coast actor Alexandra McDonald, who portrays Jessie, a promising athlete whose relationship with the film’s central character, Dean Younblood (Ashton James) adds to the story’s themes of ambition and identity. Now available on VOD.

Film Spotlight: AGATHA'S ALMANAC by Amalie Atkins

Shot over six years by an all-woman crew on 16mm film, AGATHA'S ALMANAC quietly observes nonagenarian Agatha Bock tending her ancestral Manitoba farm without a car, cell phone, or even running water.  The film premiered at Hot Docs 2025, where I was fortunate to meet Amalie Atkins and Agatha herself. Sharing our conversation with you here. AGATHA'S ALMANAC is expanding its run across Canada in select theatres.

Film Spotlight: THE BLUE TRAIL by Gabriel Mascaro

Gabriel Mascaro's THE BLUE TRAIL is set in a not-so-distant dystopian future where the Brazilian government sends seniors to isolated colonies under the guise of boosting the economy, and 77-year-old Tereza (Denise Weinberg) decides her story is far from over.  I spoke with Gabriel Mascaro during TIFF 2025 where the film screened in Centrepiece section.

Film Spotlight: NIKA & MADISON by Eva Thomas

Inspired by Thomas’ celebrated short film Redlights, Nika & Madison follows two Indigenous women whose lives are thrown into chaos after a violent encounter with police. I met up with Thomas during the Toronto International Film Festival 2025 edition to discuss more about the film, in lead up to its World Premiere at the festival.  The film extends its theatrical to a much wider release across Canada on March 20, 2026.

Spotlight: d’bi.young anitafrika’s SANKOFA TRILOGY

After 20 years, d’bi.young anitafrika’s three-week repertory production of the critically acclaimed SANKOFA TRILOGY featuring the plays blood.claat, benu, and word! sound! powah! returns to Toronto. In this episode, I speak with d’bi.young anitafrika about the significance of this trilogy, the evolution of her work, and much more. Performances run from Sep 23-Oct 12, 2025 at The Theatre Centre in Toronto, Canada.