The Ontarion - 171.3

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Guelph Dance Festival in Exhibition Park See centre for photos

theONTARION

171.3 • JUNE 6, 2013 • The University of Guelph’s Independent Student Newspaper • www.theontarion.com

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New season of Arrested Development

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PHOTO BY WENDY SHEPHERD

Much like the “Gentlemen’s Club” sign at The Manor in Guelph, the strip industry seems to be dying, but The Manor documentary will leave you wondering even more about what goes on behind closed doors.

Documentary Review: The Manor Strip club doc looks at family dynamics Wendy Shepherd If you’re looking for a film that delves into the inner workings of the strip club business in Guelph, you better look somewhere else. Of course, “inner workings” is up for the interpretation of the viewer. This film is not a history of The Manor itself (a valid assumption), but the story of a family working to keep themselves together, all while attempting to run an unconventional family business. The filmmaker, Shawney Cohen, comes across as the

most stable and rational family member, one who is forced to live and work in an unstable lifestyle. He is ultimately distraught by his family’s current state of affairs and throughout the film he places the viewer in a state of emotional uncertainty. Shawney effectively plays on the pros and cons of each family member throughout the film. His father is portrayed as the protagonist: the precise depiction of a man trying to save face, all while attempting to care for his family in an essentially insensitive manner. His brother Sammy is a moneyhungry representation of the business, and is fairly absent in his involvement with the family. Then

there is his mother, a woman who suffers from an eating disorder, an affliction that has resulted in her unwillingness to accept help from others for decades. This sort of family collapse is not what you’d expect in a documentary about a strip club, but the film is rightfully named as it is presented with a sense of satirical irony; the very business the Cohen’s are striving to keep alive is inevitably what is causing them to fall apart. Among the family drama that keeps the audience wanting more, what makes this documentary truly stand out is its ability to tap into social issues. The Manor challenges the stereotypes of a

dying industry and our preconceived notions about those who work there, all while bringing to light the emphasis society places on the “ideal” body image. What can be learned about the strip club business from this documentary? Not that much, but it may evoke some tears and the occasional chuckle. If you were hoping by the end of the film to achieve a conclusive feeling toward the well being of this family, you’ll be left with disappointment. But more importantly, you will leave the theatre thinking about it, something you may not typically expect from a documentary about a strip club.

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GIF versus JIF debate

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