Directed by Ellen Frankenstein • Documentary • 1998 • 30 minutes
Stan Marsden is a resident of the small town in a Alaska, a member of the Tsimshian Tribe, and a master woodcarver. He is also a father who lost a son to a cocaine overdose. Unable to display his grief through traditional channels, Marsden decides that a totem pole dedicated to the memory of his son would be a way to heal and invites the community to take part. How this totem became a symbol of healing not just for a man but for an entire community is the subject of Carved From the Heart.
Carved from the Heart intertwines the process of carving and erecting the Healing Heart totem pole with the participants' stories of grief and loss, substance abuse and suicide. This powerful film explores questions of death and dying and the impact of domestic violence, intergenerational trauma, and war on veterans and their families.
Up Next in New Day Films
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Scattering CJ
Directed by Andrea Kalin • Documentary • 2022 • 63 minutes
Grieving mom, Hallie Twomey, put a call out on Facebook after losing her veteran son, CJ, to suicide. Her request: To honor her son's memory by scattering his ashes in as many special places as possible. The request went viral. A global ...
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On The Line: Where Sacrifice Begins
Directed by Mike Mascoll • Documentary • 2016 • 75 minutes
When you think of busing in Boston, chances are it’s about a dark episode in the city’s history that sparks images of violence, intolerance, and racial tension. And while most of the historical spotlight has been on forced busing to dese...
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Concrete, Steel & Paint
Directed by Tony Heriza, Cindy Burstein • Documentary • 2009 • 55 minutes
"Concrete, Steel & Paint" tells the complex story of men in prison, victims of crime, and an artistic partnership that helps break down barriers between them. As prisoners, victims, and victim advocates collaborate on a mu...
