This Is North Preston

2019

1h 17m

Documentary

List

17%

Tomatometer

6 Reviews

99%

Audience Score

250+ Ratings

North Preston, Nova Scotia, started as a haven for escaped slaves but has more recently been painted as one of the biggest hubs of human trafficking in the nation.

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Prime Video

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Radheyan Simonpillai

NOW Toronto

If this were a film about sex trafficking, it might have spent more time with the victims, really listening to their stories.

Rated: 1/5

May 17, 2019

Full Review

Sarah-Tai Black

Globe and Mail

Above all, the documentary feels more akin to a vanity project meant to market Just Chase, his work and his background, rather than a nuanced or empathetic look at a community on the margins.

Rated: 1/4

May 16, 2019

Full Review

Richard Crouse

Richard Crouse

Raises interesting points but feels stretched to its modest 70-minute running time.

Rated: 2.5/5

Jan 31, 2021

Full Review

Pat Mullen

POV Magazine

[Heyman's] film allows numerous people on the margins to take hold of the narrative and reflect their experiences in their own words. While doing that, though, the film offers a grab bag of talking points in lieu of a coherent argument or perspective.

May 15, 2019

Full Review

Liam Lacey

Original Cin

It's an interesting story but This Is North Preston's cinematic approach (think music video) undermines its gravitas.

May 15, 2019

Full Review

Andrew Parker

The Gate

Hayman paints a thorough and complex picture that offers no easy answers, but notes that change on all sides is needed for North Preston to turn its image around.

Rated: 6/10

Mar 25, 2019

Full Review

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Audience Member

Worst documentary EVER! Nothing but a bunch of losers blaming society for their problems and justifying the sex trafficking of women. Absolute garbage.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/03/21

Full Review

Audience Member

Had to watch this movie twice as I was quite disturbed after the first viewing. The disregard for the consequences of these men made me quite upset after first. The more I watched, the more I at least understood the lack of options in their community. Would like to have seen more of the other side of the community but quite the access.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Saw it as the closing film at the Canadian Film Festival. An edgy and intimate journey into Canada's pimp and drug capital (who knew?). Just Chase's personal story goes deep, but it's unsettling to witness his friends' bravado. (Thankfully, some women owned and abused by the pimps don't let them off the hook.) A layered insight into a really troubled town, and I ended up feeling pretty hopeful. These men and boys may be the tipping point. North Preston's citizens close the film with a dignity that brought me to tears. Great soundtrack.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An emotional rollercoaster of a film that I thought about for days after. Part of me wants to hate the pimps featured in this movie, but it made me at least understand their background and how this has happened. My heart breaks for the victims. Seems like North Preston also has a very special side to it as well. Well done.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I live in Canada and had no idea this place existed. Very interesting that such behaviour still exists in our country. The pimps need to be accountable for their actions but interesting to see how they got there.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie tells a gruesome eye opening story of a small town in the East Coast of Canada where pimps and prostitution is at its back bone. Very eye opening and raw! Highly recommend it but not for the faint of heart.... 10/10

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

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Jaren Hayman

Director

Jaren Hayman

Screenwriter

Jaren Hayman

Producer

Noorez Lalani

Executive Producer

Brian Hamilton

Cinematographer

Brian Hamilton

Film Editing

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Synopsis

North Preston, Nova Scotia, started as a haven for escaped slaves but has more recently been painted as one of the biggest hubs of human trafficking in the nation.

Director: Jaren Hayman
Producer: Jaren Hayman
Screenwriter: Jaren Hayman
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 25, 2019
Runtime: 1h 17m

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