The Fruit Machine (2018 film)
The Fruit Machine is a Canadian documentary film, directed by Sarah Fodey and released in 2018.[1] The film profiles the "fruit machine", a controversial device used by the Canadian government in the 1950s and 1960s in an attempt to identify LGBT employees and disqualify them from the civil service, and its effects on the people whose lives and careers were disrupted or destroyed by the test.
The Fruit Machine | |
---|---|
Directed by | Sarah Fodey |
Produced by | Han Nguyen Derek Diorio Sarah Fodey |
Written by | Sarah Fodey |
Cinematography | Karl Roeder Michael Tien |
Edited by | Matt West Justin Wotherspoon |
Production company | SandBay Entertainment |
Distributed by | TVOntario |
Release date |
|
Running time | 81 minutes |
Country | Canada |
Language | English |
Figures interviewed in the film include Michelle Douglas, John Ibbitson, John Sawatsky and Gary Kinsman.
The film premiered at the Inside Out Film and Video Festival on June 1, 2018,[1] and had selected other film festival screenings before airing as a TVOntario special presentation on September 29.[2]
The film received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Documentary Program at the 7th Canadian Screen Awards in 2019.[3]
References
- Peter Knegt, "The Fruit Machine: Why every Canadian should learn about this country's 'gay purge'". CBC Arts, May 30, 2018.
- "TVO Original documentary The Fruit Machine explores a dark chapter in the history of Canada and the LGBTQ+ community". TVOntario, September 18, 2018.
- "“Anthropocene”, “Amazing Race Canada” among Canadian Screen Award nominees". RealScreen, February 8, 2019.