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Cape Breton | Three Short Films; One Magical Island

Cape Breton | Three Short Films; One Magical Island

Cape Breton | Three Short Films; One Magical Island

Offering breathtaking seascapes and a lively mix of Gaelic, Aboriginal and Acadian cultures, Cape Breton is an island as unique as it is loved.

Discover some of the island’s history, inhabitants and customs with these 3 short films.

It’s Just Better

From Beverly Shaffer (I’ll Find a Way) comes this sweet short doc about Shawn Peter Dywer, a boy who shares a Cape Breton farmhouse with his mother and all 9 – nine! – eof his siblings. Money is short, but resourcefulness and fun aren’t.

It's Just Better, Beverly Shaffer, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

Canada Vignettes: Men of the Deeps, Cape Breton

Cape Breton isn’t only about glorious hikes, it’s also about coal. Get a taste of the island’s rich mining history with this very short film that features New Waterford and Glace Bay mines, as well as traditional Cape Breton folk songs, performed by Men of the Deeps, a miner’s choral group.

Canada Vignettes: Men of the Deeps, Cape Breton, Sandra Dudley, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

Celtic Spirits

What happens when two Cape Breton musicians visit Ireland and Scotland in search of their Celtic musical roots? Watch – and listen – to find out.

Celtic Spirits, James Littleton, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

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  1. Oh my, you’ve touched my heart with these films, particularly the Dwyer family “It’s just better”, also the Celtic history of Cape Breton music…. and my favourite all time John Allen Cameron.
    My deepest appreciation to NFB.

    — Dennis Korte,
  2. Please teach the rest of these internet hoangiols how to write and research!

    Linda,
  3. Thank you.
    I’m from mainland NS but feel the kinship to Cape Breton. I watched all three films and they brought me back to my childhood. Now living in Toronto where I sometimes get to see Sandy MacIntyre play the fiddle.

    — Rachel,
  4. I’ve just enjoyed the wonderful little doc ‘It’s Just Better’. I’m full of admiration for the mother, what an amazing woman! Would love to know some more of the family’s story since then – any updates?

    Thank you for a chance to watch, really inspiring.

    — Betty Logan,
  5. This marvelous film was made in 1982. I would like to know what has become of the Dwyer family.

    — Sue Hamilton,
    1. I also would like to know what became of the Dwyer family. What a sweet film and such a self assured child.

      — Patricia Jackson,
  6. Marvellous and heart-warming!! I just loved it and will keep this to see and hear it again. My maiden name is Kelly and I also have McLean…Celtic indeed 🙂

    — Eunice de Gruchy,

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