Twelve

Tuesday March 10, 2009 at 10 pm ET/PT on CBC Newsworld

A filmmaker confronts personal demons with help from 12 people who, like him, all came to Canada when they were 12 years old.

Lester Alfonso came to Canada from the Philippines and that first year shaped who he is today. His film asks the question: if you could go back and speak to your 12-year-old self, what would you say? Alfonso attempts to answer this question by interviewing a dozen people about this pivotal moment in their lives. On the cusp of surging teenage hormones, 12-year-olds often experience emotions with more intensity. Adapting to a new country at this age can be overwhelming and initial impressions sometimes last a lifetime. The stories told recall both pleasure and pain - ranging from the joy of shopping in a store filled with goods to the shame of personal humiliation by a teacher.

Lester Alfonso, filmmaker

By collecting other people's stories and soliciting their words of advice, Alfonso is forced to face some painful memories from his own past. Will this journey finally set him free? Twelve is an utterly unique and visually stylish take on what it means to become Canadian.

Twelve was directed by Lester Alfonso and produced by Lea Marin (NFB Ontario Centre). It was a winner of the National Film Board of Canada's Reel Diversity Competition and was made in association with CBC Newsworld.