On the Adamant (Sur l’Adamant)
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 7:00pm
France/Japan 2023 Director Nicolas Philibert 109 DCP PG
“A moving testament to what people are capable of, if they could just find the right outlet for it.”
Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter
Floating on the Seine River in the heart of Paris, the Adamant is a therapeutic day centre whose distinct architectural form—resembling that of a wooden spaceship-turned-barge—defies the clinical setting. Developed in collaboration with staff and persons living with mental illness, the centre opened in July 2010 and operates as part of the Esquirol psychiatric service of the Saint-Maurice hospital network. With a gentle quotidian lens, director Nicolas Philibert respectfully documents life at the centre. We see those attending the Adamant engage in a range of art-making, demonstrating how creative expression is critical to mental well-being. From planning the anniversary of the centre’s film club to reconciling cash at their cafe, candid conversations and collective decision-making between staff and its members are core to the centre’s operations. Winner of the Golden Bear at last year’s Berlinale, On the Adamant is a tender portrait of collaborative and community-oriented care.
In French with English subtitles
Post-screening discussion with Dave MacDonald and Mike Tibbles of Pathways Clubhouse, and Katy Tucker.
Moderated by Dr. Harry Karlinsky, series director.
“Compassionate, intelligent, and shrewdly observed … There is a gentle and very happy sense of freedom and possibility aboard the Adamant, and there is enormous warmth, sympathy, and human curiosity in this film.” Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
Dave MacDonald was first employed by Pathways in 1984 and became the Executive Director in 2002. He is a Member of the Faculty for Clubhouse Development – Clubhouse International. He has performed over 70 accreditations around the world. Pathways’ current membership is over 1600 and continues to grow with average daily attendance at 60 people. They have both a Youth Program and a Young Adult program.
Mike Tibbles has been a member of Pathways Clubhouse for the past 12 years, and recently transitioned to a staff position. He has gained a wealth of knowledge about the Clubhouse model, through conferences, Colleague training, and now as a member of the International Faculty for Clubhouse Development. Mike loves the Clubhouse model, and through his own lived experience has a real heart for people living with mental illness.
Katy Tucker was born and raised in the US into a family that was active in social justice issues, which has been a lifelong passion. She majored in English and French Literature at Rutgers University in New Jersey, and participated in their “Junior Year Abroad” program in Tours, France, then awarded a one year teaching position as an “Assistante d’Anglais” to work in a middle school in Toulouse, France. Katy worked in a variety of jobs with Chinese and Latino immigrants and LGBT and African-Americans in the US until attending the Evening MSW Program at the University of Washington while working full time, and graduated in 1996. She immigrated to Canada with her then same-sex partner (a French national) under Compassionate and Humanitarian grounds in 1998 and have been working for Vancouver Coastal Health as a Psychiatric Social Worker since then. She has two beautiful adult children, and when she is not working she is sponsoring refugees to Canada and visiting the dog park with her rescue dog. This past April she spent her holidays visiting parts of France driving 3400 km in 20 days and arranged a tour of the Adamant with Care Coordinator Arnaud Vallet and is organizing an exchange whereby some of the Adamant’s staff and “passengers” would visit Vancouver to tour day programs.