The Back-breaking Leaf

Jan 2, 1959

0h 29m

★ 10.0

Overview

Here is a graphic picture of the tobacco harvest in southwestern Ontario. At the end of July, transient field workers move in for a brief bonanza when the plant is ripe. The tobacco harvesters call it "the back-breaking leaf."

Genres

Documentary

Production Companies

ONF | NFB

The Back-breaking Leaf Trailers

No Trailers found.

Cast

Commentary

Stanley Jackson

A portrait of a small Ontario town, this film introduces its audience to the people of Holstein by filming them in the old-fashioned general store, the blacksmith's shop and the town granary. Old-time residents reminisce, while old-fashioned sleighs travel down the main road bordered by beautiful old frame houses.

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0.0

Smoke and Mirrors: A History of Denial

Dec 1, 1999

In the early 20th Century, tobacco merchants were unaware of the danger of their increasingly popular product. Smoke & Mirrors documents the rise of the cigarette, and the tobacco industry's subsequent attempts to conceal its emerging link with cancer and other smoking-related illnesses. Throughout the 1940's, the scientific case against the cigarette was building. However, despite the evidence that tobacco was a major cause of disease and death among smokers, tobacco companies began conducting successful campaigns of misinformation designed to weave cigarettes into the social fabric of America by emphasizing the "glamorous" and "sophisticated" side of smoking. Today fifty years of documented denial is finally coming back to haunt the industry. Smoke & Mirrors examines this sordid past, and illuminates the issues that threaten tobacco's future.This video is divided into two parts for your viewing convenience.

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0.0

Lynchburg at War

Invalid Date

Lynchburg at War is a documentary film following the events of the Civil War in Lynchburg, Virginia.

6.5

Killing the Indian in the Child

Feb 18, 2021

The Indian Act, passed in Canada in 1876, made members of Aboriginal peoples second-class citizens, separated from the white population: nomadic for centuries, they were moved to reservations to control their behavior and resources; and thousands of their youngest members were separated from their families to be Christianized: a cultural genocide that still resonates in Canadian society today.

0.0

The Circle

Aug 15, 1967

Produced in 1967, this black and white film is an inmate's view of Daytop, a drug treatment centre on Staten Island, New York, where addicts learn to get along without drugs. Uncompromising, often brutal group therapy sessions are designed to shake loose the excuses a victim makes for himself. The people and situations shown are authentic; only one actor was employed. The results obtained at Daytop are regarded by some psychiatrists as a breakthrough.

0.0

Ontario: 'Land of Lakes'

Feb 12, 1949

This Traveltalk series short visit to the province of Ontario begins in Ottawa, Canada's capital, then proceeds to Algonquin Park, Toronto, and Niagara Falls.

6.0

Valldaura: A Quarantine Cabin

Jul 24, 2022

A group of young architects, confined to a forest in Barcelona during the COVID crisis, explore the problems generated by the ambition of wanting to be completely self-sufficient.

7.6

The Gleaners and I

Jul 7, 2000

Varda focuses her eye on gleaners: those who scour already-reaped fields for the odd potato or turnip. Her investigation leads from forgotten corners of the French countryside to off-hours at the green markets of Paris, following those who insist on finding a use for that which society has cast off, whether out of necessity or activism.

0.0

Seasons in the Mind

May 22, 1971

A portrait film of Eastern Ontario directed by Peter Pearson who’s films include the award winner’s like “The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar" (1968) and the classic Canadian feature film, "Paperback Hero" (1973). "Seasons in the Mind" includes a talent show section set in Arnprior, Ontario.

8.3

North of Superior

May 22, 1971

The second IMAX film made, commissioned by the Ontario Government, and produced by MultiScreen Corporation, later to become IMAX corporation. North of Superior is a Northern Ontario travelogue, and was the first short feature to be shown at the newly created Ontario government theme park, Ontario Place, in it's state of the art cinema, Cinesphere, the first permanent IMAX installation.

0.0

Montreal and India

Dec 1, 1922

The Taj Mahal and shots of Jalandhar nestle between footage from Canada and Africa.

0.0

Smoke Traders

Oct 24, 2012

Smoke Traders is an inside look at the world of the Mohawk tobacco trade.

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0.0

Žně 1950

Jan 1, 1951

No overview available.

0.0

Heavy Horse Pull

Jan 1, 1977

This short documentary offers a humorous look at horse-pulling contests in Ontario and the people who prepare for them. We travel from the farm to the contest, where excitement runs high and the quips do not lack in local colour. Which of these magnificent creatures will be able to pull the heaviest load and win the prize?

0.0

Attila

Oct 10, 2023

Filmmaker Stephen Hosier takes a journey with Richard Csanyi, his childhood friend, as he investigates the life and death of his twin brother Attila, who was found dead on a rooftop in 2020.

7.5

Black Ice

Jul 14, 2023

This incisive, urgent documentary examines the history of anti-Black racism in hockey, from the segregated leagues of the 19th century to today’s NHL, where Black athletes continue to struggle against bigotry.

0.0

Learning To Grow

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Paul and Lindsey, a couple who left the hustle of city life for country life. From caring for animals to sustaining the land, their journey is filled with challenges, heartwarming triumphs, and a deep connection to nature. Discover how they’ve redefined what it means to live a meaningful life.

8.1

Picture a Scientist

Nov 11, 2020

A documentary that looks at systemic sexism faced by women scientists in STEM fields.

0.0

Women Hay Makers

Dec 7, 1916

Picturesque scenes of land girls gathering hay on an Essex farm during WWI.

0.0

The Blueberry Blues

Feb 26, 2026

Summer unveils a new blueberry season in northern Canada. The fields are covered in blue and workers from all over scramble before the frost puts an end to the harvest. And yet this time of year is much more than just picking: it's a time of music and connection.

The Back-breaking Leaf

Overview

Genres

Production Companies

The Back-breaking Leaf Trailers