My Real Life

MontréalNord is one of those areas we euphemistically call disadvantaged A place where drugs poverty delinquency suicide and all kinds of dysfunction are depressingly commonplace This is where the late Magnus Isacsson decided to film 18 months in the lives of four young men aged 17 to 22 Danny Alex Mickerson and Michael Music is central to all of their lives More than just a pastime hiphop is their outlet for coping with their demons With the help of their teacher mentor and friend Don Karnage and driven by a fierce desire to overcome hardship they learn to be adults Winner of the award for Best Canadian Feature Film at the most recent Montreal International Documentary Festival Ma vie réelle is an exceptionally astute document in which listening and generosity gain the power to defeat misery