The new documentary Teenagers and armed dissects this disturbing reality in Quebec which is the increase in violence among young people who appear with guns in hand. With the relevant explanations and possible solutions offered by the experts, one of the undeniable strengths of this television production is to have found these young people, who are rarely heard, and to have given them the floor so that they can give us relate in their own words how and why they obtained firearms.
“I felt all-powerful,” says this young man who had his first revolver at 13 years old. “I got one for my protection,” says another. This feeling of having to protect themselves often comes up in their mouth: their world is dangerous.
Young people agreed to tell their stories, opening up this underworld world for us. If we see actors with blurred faces, the voices, although modified so that no one recognizes them, are indeed theirs.
Their stories are striking and help to understand how adolescents in Quebec can get to this point.
The lawyer and social entrepreneur Fabrice Vil is the one who accompanies us throughout this hour-long documentary, which he punctuates with his questions, the same as those that come to mind.In interview with The duty, he says he feels challenged by the recent upsurge in armed violence in Quebec. He also sees in this television project an opportunity to explore this “societal issue” as well as possible solutions. His objective is also to deconstruct myths: poverty and inequalities contribute to violence, but its causes are much more complex than that, he emphasizes.
By exploring the issue of violence with young people, we note in particular the trivialization of firearms and a search for thrills among them, explains Natacha Lavigne, content producer and screenwriter ofTeenagers and armed. But in order not to remain in the “anecdote”, it was necessary to dig and dissect the subject in depth, like an investigation, says the woman who began her career as a journalist and who worked for nine months on the documentary.
Its production offers the analysis of a rich range of experts: criminologist, social worker, lawyer specializing in the defense of young offenders, researchers, community workers, parents and elementary school teachers, among others. The police only make a discreet appearance there. “It’s a choice, to get away from the usual angle,” M said in an interview.me Lavigne. “We often hear the police, so let’s leave room for others here. »
Place for young people
The production team wanted to give a big place to young people. “Let’s give them a voice: who are they, where do they come from and why have they armed themselves? » she argues. Which was not an easy task, she admits. Indeed, as the documentary’s narration immediately announces: “The voice of young people is important, but the law of silence is strong. » It was necessary to establish bonds of trust, she said. “It happened over several months. » Despite this, many withdrew, fearing for their safety.
And then, for the documentary to “really speak to young people”, it had to be first and foremost young people who explain armed violence, underlines the screenwriter, who says she is “delighted that they gave themselves up without compromise ”, including talking about their criminal past.
She hopes that the documentary will be an opportunity for parents to have a frank discussion with their young people. Mme Lavigne and Mr. Vil consider it essential that the whole question of resources offered to adolescents be debated in the public square. Some young people say it in their testimonies: “They turned to crime because they had no other avenues. It’s not normal for a 12-year-old to do the “run crack” because you have nothing to eat,” says the screenwriter, shaking her head.
Documentary may be ‘shocking’, says Mme Lavigne, “but he comes with concrete solutions”.
Which are obviously not “a magic solution”, specifies Mr. Vil, aware of the complexity of the problem. This important question remains according to him: “Are we ready to truly believe that all young people have potential? »
The documentary will be broadcast on Wednesday, October 18 at 8 p.m., on Télé-Québec, and will be followed by a discussion on means of prevention and possible solutions. Moderated by Marie-Louise Arsenault, this round table will bring together the mayor of Montreal, Valérie Plante, the Montreal police chief, Fady Dagher, the content producer and screenwriter Natacha Lavigne, the popular rapper Lost and the field worker Burt Rock.