The Observer Effect (2019)

Growing up in Pinawa was not always easy for Anthony Hart, who's father was an eccentric British scientist and mother was a stay at home with rather radical beliefs on certain issues. Although his parents were very different than the other parents in their community, one thing they thought to be important was to record Anthony's childhood and family memories. They did this all through their home video camera and captured hours and hours of footage all on 8 mm tape. This story is about what Anthony went through as a child, but also what it was like growing up with extremely different parents with extremely different social ideals. Anthony recounts his very dysfunctional childhood one clip at a time, all while telling a larger story about being from an immigrant, well educated, British family. A contrast of the seemingly happy family life, all caught on film, with the extreme dysfunctional reality they all lived day to day in their quiet neighborhood in the Whiteshell, Pinawa, Pinefalls and surrounding areas. The observer effect is the scientific concept that by measuring or observing something, you change it. The camera often changes what is being observed throughout this story. Who they are when the camera is turned on is very different than who they are when the camera is not rolling - this is the story of Anthony Hart and his dysfunctional childhood.