A Mostly Imagined History of Peterborough

This project began as a commission from Artsweek Peterborough for their 2008 celebration of local arts and culture.  A collection of stories that don’t make it into the history books, A Mostly Imagined History of Peterborough includes the story of a baby who was born in four hours, a woman who lost all her underwear in a train station, a man who raced his tricycle with a horse and buggy, and a man who pulled wood from Little Lake to heat his house years after the logs had been sunk in the logging trade.  Sometimes mundane, sometimes slightly unintelligible, the film was absolutely out of the filmmaker’s hands the moment the cameras started to roll.

While most of the stories are from older citizens who’ve had the time to refine them, some stories are told by younger generations who are just beginning to contribute their stories to the vast collective that makes the history of the city.  The film questions notions of history and importance, and is part documentary, part fairy tale, part love song, and all wry admission that you can only control an idea while it’s still in your head.

Clips from the film are available via YouTube below.

Part One

Part Two