TRAIFF 2023: We Will Be Brave Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

The most poignant documentaries shine a light on a story and/or issue that audiences may not be aware of. They are meant to make them think and start a dialogue. We Will Be Brave hopes to pave a similar path, this time shining a light on the battle against toxic masculinity and male mental health through the eyes of a Toronto area art collective whose mission was to spark a conversation about healthy masculinity through their art. Following the group of men behind the “Good Guise” collective, audiences are introduced to the community they have assembled, one where its members are encouraged to share their unique life experiences and be vulnerable with one another. Learning about the collective’s members, their stories, and how the collective has impacted their lives and how it has helped them to better themselves and better connect to the world around them through the power of that community was definitely inspiring to watch. That being said, running short of 80-minutes, it is a lot within a short period of time for better or worse.

The “Good Guise” was started by a man named Julian, a social worker and dad committed to setting a different example of fatherhood for his young son. Other members included, an R&B singer named Balu, a writer and educator named Javier, a poet and scholar named Bo, a photographer and mental health advocate named Jah Grey, and a rapper and father named Beerus Jr.. Using interactive exhibits to share their mission with the public and to attempt to stomp out toxic masculinity by giving men the tools to address their anger in non-violent ways and offering them another outlet to express themselves through art. But as much work as they did for their communities, there was still plenty for them to work on individually. A daily internal struggle, We Will Be Brave delivered strong and intimate moments of vulnerability amongst the collective members. Facing pressure both internally and externally, it was a complicated journey of unpacking decades of thoughts, feelings, and experiences took a toll.

In the end, We Will Be Brave is an important documentary with compelling moments but it ultimately suffers from being too much for its own good.

*still courtesy of Route504PR*

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.